KATE Middleton and Prince William were offered the first round of Worcestershire asparagus as a royal wedding gift – but politely declined.

Organisers of the British Asparagus Festival in the Vale of Evesham had offered the traditional first – and best – pick of the county’s famous crop to the couple.

However, in a letter last week from St James’s Palace the gift was turned down.

Angela Tidmarsh, festival co-organiser, said: “We offered the first round to Kate and William. But we got a letter last week declining the offer.”

Since 2007, the asparagus festival has launched with the Great English Asparagus Run where the first cut of the crop is driven – usually in a Morgan car – from Evesham’s Abbey Park on Saturday, April 23, to a different destination every year.

Organisers have not yet decided on an alternative destination for the round.

A St James’s Palace spokesman said: “The Prince and Kate have just been so incredibly overwhelmed by the number of gifts by private people and groups they have had to stop accepting.

“That’s the reason they have set up the Royal Wedding Charitable Gift Fund.

“The fund is for anyone who may want to send in a gift – which is an incredibly touching and kind gesture – so people can still give something if they wish.”