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The Independent UK
The Independent UK
Lifestyle
Sabrina Barr

Meghan Markle: Boy who made pasta necklace for duchess now selling them around the world for charity

Meghan Markle has been presented with a number of gifts during the royal tour, including a cuddly kangaroo toy and a pair of baby Ugg boots.

But a pasta necklace made by six-year-old Gavin Hazelwood, who gave her the piece of jewellery while she was visiting Melbourne with her husband Prince Harry, really stood out. 

His gift to the royal led to requests from from around the world for copies. 

So the youngster decided to start selling them online with all proceeds going to charity.

Gavin and his mother, Rowan, explained to Australia's 9News that the idea came about to raise money for a cause that was close to their family’s heart.

“Everyone was telling him he should start making them and selling them for himself but Gavin said he doesn’t need to make money off this,” Rowan said. “But then a few days later he said, ‘Actually we could get some money from this but send it off to charity.'”

The Duchess of Sussex wearing the pasta necklace presented to her by six-year-old Gavin Hazelwood in Melbourne (Getty Images)

Gavin’s inspiration for giving the money raised from necklace sales to charity was his younger sister Clara, who was stillborn when he was a toddler.

“I want to donate to help people find out why babies die and from stopping it from happening,” Gavin said. “Because my sister died in my mum’s tummy when I was two.”

Gavin and his mother have since set up a website, imadeyouanecklace.com, where the gold pasta necklaces are being sold for 20 Australian dollars.

The six-year-old believes that he’s going to make hundreds of necklaces, having received orders from Australia, England and America.

However, he dreams of becoming a pilot one day, having met Meghan while he was wearing a Qantas airline pilot uniform.

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