King Charles once gave Prince George an extravagant £18,000 gift, here's what it was

King Charles III has five biological grandchildren and five 'step-grandchildren'. It is fair to say that the monarch has thoroughly spoilt his eldest grandchild, Prince George.

An expensive first birthday present

When the young Prince was but one-year-old, the then-Prince Charles gifted his first grandchild with a Wendy house. To this point, nothing is out of the ordinary. The playhouse in question, however, cost £18,000, according to The Mirror.

The hut was presented to Prince George on his first birthday by Plankbridge, a Dorset-based company that had received funding from the Prince's Trust.

At his Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House, Charles installed the Victorian-style shepherd's hut for when the young Prince came to visit.

The 12ft x 6ft hut, complete with a wood-burning stove and day bed, is said to be one of George, Charlotte, and Louis' favourite places, explains My London. Visitors can spot it during a guided tour through the King's gardens.

King Charles also named woodland after his firstborn grandchild. In an interview for The One Show, the then-Prince Charles explained his reasoning.

This was a rather empty field that the farm didn’t need anymore. The great thing was that I managed to plant it the same year that my grandson was born, the eldest, George, so I thought I’d call it Prince George’s wood.

Other royal 'toys'

Prince George isn't the only royal to have received a 'life-size' playhouse. The late Queen Elizabeth II was gifted a similar Wendy house for her sixth birthday.

The miniature thatched cottage is 22ft wide and 15ft high, includes a kitchen, bedroom and bathroom and is fully equipped with running water and electricity. The house, known as 'Y Bwthyn Bach', can still be found on the grounds of Windsor and has been used by many generations of Royal children, including Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

On his seventh birthday, Prince William was gifted a tree house. According to People, Prince William told the designer, Willie Bertram, that he wanted 'it to be as high as possible'. The young Prince explained:

I want a rope ladder, which I can pull up so no one can get at me.

King Charles refurbished the famous tree house so his grandchildren could play in it.

Sources used:

- My London: Royal Family: Prince George's extortionate £18k gift from grandfather King Charles

-The Mirror: Prince George's £18k present from proud grandad Charles - and it's very fancy

- People: Prince Charles Opens Playground Inspired by Prince William and Prince Harry's Childhood Treehouse