‘Like losing a family friend’

THE death of Queen Elizabeth felt like the loss of a close family friend for a family from the North Coast.

The Singhs have been gifting the British royals carved gifts of tambuti wood for decades and the families have been corresponding over the years.

The items sent have included a writing bureau for Princess Ann, a jewellery box for Princess Diana for her wedding, a table as a wedding gift for Prince William and Kate, and a baby chair for Prince George.

The royal family has also commissioned tambuti furniture from the Singh business in Kwadukuza.

Kuber Singh, 81, known as the Tambuti King, and his wife, Amnithy, met Queen Elizabeth when she visited Durban in 1995.

“This acquaintance between the two families has been since the 1970s,” said Rajiv Singh. “It has become a family tradition to send gifts to the royals for special occasions.

“When my dad visited London he took a gift for the queen, which he dropped off at Buckingham Palace. Unfortunately, he did not get to meet the queen then.”

He said his father, who has been unwell, was in hospital when he found out about the queen’s death.

“He was upset. It felt like he lost a family friend,” said Singh.

Singh said he would continue the tradition as he planned to send a gift to King Charles after his coronation.