(Image source from: Hello Magazine)

Mumbai-based famous lunchbox delivery firm Dabbawalas is planning to gift a special set of silver jewelry to Britain's Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle's newborn Prince Archie, an office-bearer said here on Thursday.

"We shall present the baby with a typical Maharashtrian gift packet comprising silver 'kamarpatta' (waist-band), a pair of wristband (toda) and anklets (wala)," Mumbai Dabbawalas Association spokesperson Subhash Talekar told IANS.

He explained that as per Maharashtrian traditions, the grandfather gifts these three items on the birth of a grandson.

When asked for the proposed value of these gifts, Talekar replied: "We would have loved to present these auspicious items in gold, but we are constrained by resources. It is not the value of the gift but the thought that is valued. And this will be adorned by the blessings of all the Dabbawalas."

On Friday, a group of Dabbawalas will scour some of the reputed jewelers in Mumbai for shopping the best-design items for Prince Archie to make it a memorable gift, who is, so to say, already "born with a silver spoon".

On Monday, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, a former American actress, became the proud parents of the baby boy, bringing cheers to the British royal family and the people of Britain.

To be known as Master Archie Mountbatten-Windsor instead of one of his father's titles, Prince Archie is seventh in line to the British throne.

When Harry and Meghan married on May 19, 2018, the Mumbai Dabbawalas celebrated by distributing sweets to patients and relatives at the Tata Memorial Cancer Hospital and Wadia Hospital.

They topped it off with a special gift pack of Maharashtrian bridegroom attire of a shiny kurta-pajama and 'pheta' (headgear) and a 'nau-vari', a colorful Paithani saree, a black-and-golden 'mangalsutra' and seven sparkling green bangles for the bride.

The Dabbawalas' emotional connect with the Buckingham Palace goes back to 2003, when, out of the blue, they had a blue-blooded visitor to their premises - Prince Charles.

Prince Charles was bowled over by the work and services rendered by the ultra-efficient army of 5,000-odd Dabbawalas, who meticulously ferry tiffin lunch boxes to around 200,000 hungry Mumbai office-goers.

By Sowmya Sangam