Queen Elizabeth reportedly gives her staff the same Christmas gift every year.
The 91-year-old monarch used to dish out puddings from Harrods or Fortnum & Mason – which holds a warrant as the royal grocers – at this time of year, but she’s decided to scale down her extravagant spending in recent years and now gives her 500-odd staff members a Tesco’s Finest Matured Christmas Pudding each.
And, according to the Express.co.uk, those who have worked for the royal family for a considerable amount of time are also given vouchers to go with their desserts.
The family also refuse to splash the cash when it comes to one another and, instead, prefer to give each other funny presents, which they open on December 24.
Darren McGrady – who used to be the chef for the Queen and Princess Diana – told HELLO! Online recently: "It was the same meal every year. They’re actually really boring with festivities! They didn’t do hams or anything – just traditional turkey. We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children’s nursery and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had Christmas lunch. Not long after, they’d go in for afternoon tea. It was always chocolate yule log, which was a twist on the chocolate birthday cake. We’d make one big Christmas cake for the Queen and the royal family and then another smaller one for the nursery. It was always fruit cake – royal icing, marzipan and traditional fruit cake."
This year, Prince Harry’s partner Meghan Markle will join the royals – the first time a fiancee has had Christmas lunch with Her Majesty without being married.
The couple – who have been dating since mid-2016 – announced their engagement a few weeks ago after Harry, 33, proposed to Meghan during a "cosy night" in.
Recalling the romantic moment in November, Meghan said: "It was a cosy night, we were roasting chicken … and it was an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee … Yes! As a matter of fact, I could barely let [Harry] finish proposing."
Prince Harry added: "She didn’t even let me finish. She said ‘Can I say yes’. Then there were hugs and I had the ring in my finger. I was like ‘ Can I give you the ring?’ It was a really nice moment. Just the two of us."
Queen Elizabeth gives xmas puddings out
