Royal babies have been wrapped in these family business-made shawls over the years - as Princess Anne visits the firm.
Newborn babies struggle to regulate their body temperature for the first few precious months of their lives, so many parents look for the best swaddles to wrap their little ones up in. Not only can they help keep them warm but they can also help get a baby to sleep and they're great at adding a layer of cosiness when out in one of the best prams for your newborn baby.
They're even popular with members of the Royal Family, as after Queen Elizabeth II gave birth to her son Charles, she ordered two dozen shawls from a then little-known family-run business, G.H.Hurt & Son based in Chilwell.
The shawls have proved popular, as not only was Prince William wrapped in one as he left the hospital with his mum Princess Diana and father Charles in 1982, but his children have all used the shawls too.
Princess Anne visited the long-standing (1912) Nottingham manufacturer which now employs 12 people and has both a baby knitwear and adult knitwear collection, as it's understood the late Queen Elizabeth II ordered 24 pieces in 1948 upon the birth of the now King Charles.
This sweet 122cm x 120cm shawl is knitted with soft, lightweight and warm cotton by G.H. Hurt & Son, and features a stars and moon design and a hand-finished scalloped edge. Perfect for swaddling a newborn baby or wrapping them up for a stroll in their pushchair, this is a timeless gift perfect for a family's new arrival.
For a luxurious baby blanket, this 100 per cent pure cashmere shawl measures 116cm x 110cm and is a delicate and beautiful way to keep your newborn baby snug and warm. The shawl comes in white, pink and blue and the high quality means it can be passed down through the generations.
In baby blue, this handmade G.H. Hurt & Son shawl is washed and ready to use straight away. For future washes, it's advised to wash the item by hand in water below 30 degrees and allow it to dry flat, away from direct sunlight. A timeless gift to treasure.
But despite having royalty as its customers, it's understood that the company is never told when a shawl has been purchased by royals, and only find out when they see the baby wrapped in their handmade piece during the traditional photocall which takes place upon the hospital steps.
"It was a lovely surprise," said Gillian Taylor, the director of GH Hurt & Son. "The first time we knew they had chosen one of our blankets was when they stepped outside the doors of the hospital. We recognised the shawl straight away, because of its unique pattern."
The world got the first glimpse of Prince William in 1982 when he left hospital wrapped in one of the company's famous shawls, and Princess Anne got to see how the shawls are made during her visit this week.
In other royal news, we could see Prince George having hours of fun on his 11th birthday with this top toy of 2024 (and it's on sale in time for the summer holidays). Alternatively if you're looking for royal-inspired Valentine's Day gift inspiration, Prince William has gifted Kate £540k worth of jewellery and expert reveals sweet links to their children (one piece is an on-trend treasure for mums) or if it's toys your after, we think Prince Louis would LOVE to let off steam with this Top Toy of 2024 (and you can pre-order it for your kids too).
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