Exciting news reached Lottie HQ - Lottie and Finn have been listed on the annual Royal Gift List! Remember last year in May, when our MD Ian Harkin Presented the Prince of Wales with Royal Wedding Dolls during his visit to Donegal?! We've since been listed on the annual Royal Gift List 2017 which lists global gifts presented to the members of the Royal family! The Prince of Wales was gifted Lottie and Finn dolls on behalf of Princess Charlotte and Prince George of Cambridge. 

Lottie Dolls selected gifts for Prince George and Princess Charlotte

A photo posted by Kensington Palace (@kensingtonroyal) on Jun 11, 2016 at 5:57am PDT

His Royal Highness Prince Charles visited Donegal last year, and met with Arklu, the toy company which started their business with a doll to Celebrate the Royal Wedding and went on to create their own brand of wholesome, childhood inspired dolls; Lottie, Finn and Friends which were gifted to Prince Charles’ grandchildren, Princess Charlotte and Prince George of Cambridge. Palace officials today released lists of official presents received by each member of the Royal Family and Irish designed toys Lottie and Finn were included in the list of assorted gifts from all over the world. Kensington Palace and Clarence House do not list gifts presented in Britain, so they do not appear on its official list. Gifts cannot be sold or exchanged and eventually become part of the Royal Collection, which is held in trust by the Queen for her successors and the nation. We are thrilled to learn that the Prince and Princess can include Lottie and Finn on their toy-list! 

MD Ian Harkin gifted Prince Charles with Lottie and Finn dolls on behalf of his Grandchildren. 

During the visit, Lottie MD, Ian Harkin explained to Prince Charles how Arklu began their doll industry journey having developed the Royal dolls and donated a percentage of sales to the Royal National Lifeboats Institution.

Lottie MD Ian Harkin presents Prince Charles with an earlier product, the Royal Wedding Doll Collection

During the conversation with Prince Charles, Harkin further explained how whilst developing the royal dolls Arklu were approached by a number of parents who suggested developing a wholesome alternative doll for children, inspire by this mission to provide appropriate dolls to children and following 18 months of research Arklu developed their now award-winning Lottie and Finn dolls, building in childhood focused attributes in collaboration with scientists, parents, children and play experts. 

Children all in 30 countries all over the world are welcoming Lottie and Finn into their lives! Photo Credit: Una O Connor

The Stargazer Lottie doll was shown to the Prince of Wales during his visit to the Letterkenny Institute of Technology, Harkin explained that Stargazer Lottie was part of ESA British Astronaut Tim Peak’s Principa Mission; the Prince of Wales said he had not been aware of this, but found the British astronomy link very interesting. Stargazer Lottie Doll went to Utah, to take part in a Mars Martian simulation with Dr Niamh Shaw as part of the crew of ‘Mars Mission 173’.

I've a passenger in tow @MarsCrew173. Meet Stargazer Lottie, who has already been on the @ISS_Research for @esa. VIP indeed @blackrockcastle pic.twitter.com/QEEJ8OeD8h

— Dr. Niamh Shaw (@niamhiepoos) January 11, 2017

Image Source Popsugar/Getty Handout

Royal Wedding Dolls led to the start-up toy company developing Lottie, Lottie Dolls was first launched in August 2012. Unlike other dolls Lottie, Finn and Friends are based on nine year old children and focused on childhood [adventures]. The collection was created to empower children to be themselves, to be imaginative, adventurous and most of all to have fun.

Lottie Dolls aim to empower children and focus on the magic of childhood

Lottie Dolls (Arklu) has achieved significant milestones in 2016 that include major partnerships with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, a publishing partnership with Penguin and overall winners of the 2016 Google ‘Adopt a Start-up Award’. Arklu employs 10 people in its Donegal HQ, and hopes to double that number in the coming year having recently secured a €1 million investment from the Davy EII Tax Relief Fund to progress the company’s global expansion. 

Olivia (age 8) UK inspired Fossil Hunter Lottie

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