At Buckingham Palace, Felipe Calderon was presented with a first edition of George Orwell’s nightmarish book, which tells of a totalitarian regime and coined the concept Big Brother.
The Royal Household seeks guidance from the staff of incoming VIPs when deciding what to offer during the official exchange of gifts.
A Palace spokeswoman said: “Apparently the president really admires George Orwell.”
The 1949 book was boxed in leather by the bindery at Windsor.