Gavin Hazelwood is a six-year-old boy who gave Meghan Markle, the duchess of Sussex, a handmade macaroni necklace during the royal Australian tour that she and her husband, Prince Harry, recently enjoyed.
The sweet gesture was caught by cameras — and like many fashions the princess wears, it’s now of intense interest to the public.
The Australian boy (shown above left) made news on October 18 after he was filmed in Melbourne outside the Government House, where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were arriving for a formal reception, Fox News noted.
Holding a sign reading, “I Made You a Necklace” — and, as an aspiring pilot, wearing a little Qantas uniform to boot — young Hazelwood caught Meghan Markle’s eye. She thanked him for the necklace he offered and placed it around her neck.
Related: Prince Harry Breaks Royal Protocol for This Special Boy — Watch
Hazelwood is now selling his pasta-based creations online and is donating the proceeds to charity, according to Marie Claire.
He makes his necklaces by dipping macaroni pieces into gold paint, then stringing them on ribbons.
The young lad and his family have also launched a website, “I Made You a Necklace,” where customers can order their own necklaces at a cost of $20 each.
“I want to be like the prince and princess and support charities,” says Hazelwood on the website.
Then he explains his very special mission: “I made more necklaces the same as Meghan’s. If I sell them, I’ll send all the profits to research for stillborn babies. My sister, Clara, was stillborn in 2014 and I don’t want it to happen anymore.”
His mother also weighed in. “In Australia, there are six stillborn babies born every day, which is one every four hours,” Rowan Hazelwood told Marie Claire.
The rate per capita in the U.S. is similar, with approximately 65 stillbirths per day. “These rates haven’t declined for a long time, which is why we’re so determined to help prevent it.”
So how is the young jewelry designer keeping up with demand?
“Gavin is continuing to make every piece by hand,” his mom told Marie Claire about his recent spate of orders.
“I help him with the threading, as that part is quite tricky. He enjoys making them and is really organized.”
She added, “And he likes to know where each necklace is going to around the world. He looks up each country on his iPad, so it’s a good geography lesson for the aspiring pilot!”
The magazine asked the child if he was surprised so many people wanted to buy his necklaces. His answer showed an adorable nature — and a good head for business.
“No,” he said, “because I thought everyone would want to be the same as the princess.”
And of the princess wearing his macaroni necklace, his answer was simple: “I thought it was awesome!”
Donations for stillbirth research can also be made directly through the website.
Hazelwood’s mother confirmed that as of Saturday, her son had received more than 250 orders for his necklaces from around the world.
See more in the video below.
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