Image: Annika Söderblom / Kela

The Kela maternity package contains several sets of children’s clothes and other items that come in handy for new parents, such as bedding, nappies, gauze towels and child-care products.

The free package is offered to all parents under the Finnish social security system.

One such baby box made it beyond Finnish borders last week. Kensington palace confirmed receipt of the maternity package to the BBC.

"We were delighted to receive the very kind gift of the maternity package from the Finnish government. It was a very thoughtful gesture and we're very grateful for it. I'm sure the Duke and Duchess will be very interested to see the contents", a spokesperson of the palace said.

It’s not the first time Kela sends a box to a prestigious foreign address. Last year it sent one to Sweden, to Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel for the baby Princess Estelle.

Baby box creates stir in Britain

Commenting on the Britain-bound box, Kela spokesperson Heidi Liesivesi told the BBC that the social security institution wanted to congratulate the Duke and Duchess in this way.

The maternity kit and the Finnish custom of putting babies to sleep in the box – which comes with a fitted mattress and sleeping bag – aroused great interest in Britain at the start of June, when the BBC did a piece on the subject. The British Broadcasting Company went into the contents of the baby box in detail, with pictures as well as text.

After the BBC coverage, Kela has been contacted by people from around the globe wanting to purchase a maternity box. To their disappointment, Kela cannot sell the boxes, as these are not commercial products, but rather benefits of the Finnish social security system.