Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas gifts for her staff have been unveiled.
The 91-year-old monarch gifts her personal staff at Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle and Sandringham – her three residences – something to mark the holiday season and previous presents include everything from salt and pepper shakers to a crystal bowl.
The gifts have been revealed now they have been acquired by Royal memorabilia dealer Ian Shapiro. Shapiro has managed to get his hands on the collection, saved by one of the personal staff who worked for the royal family for over a decade.
In 2002, it was a stunning blue enamel box with the royal crest etched onto it whilst for 2004, all staff were given a crystal bowl with the words "Christmas 2004, presented by Her Majesty the Queen" etched into the centre of the glass. In 2006, to also remember the Queen’s 80th birthday, they were handed a photograph of Her Majesty in a neat little frame.
It was the silver plated salt and pepper set in 2011 whilst staff received a gift of a Loving Cup in 2013. For 2014, there were two gifts – a pair of blue cufflinks with ER emblazoned on them and a Fortnum and Mason Christmas pudding. It reads on its label: "Traditional Christmas pudding. Especially prepared for the Royal Household by Fortnum and Mason". Inside, it promises a "rich plum and brandy pudding made to an exclusive recipe". It was presented in a decorative box.
In 2015, the gift was an alarm clock with ER on the front, which swung open to reveal the clock face. Christmas 2015 was also etched onto the clock face.
Mr Shapiro said of the gifts: "The range of gifts from the Queen reveals a degree of annual thought and imagination. They seldom come on to the open market but certain have fetched a few hundred pounds when offered on public auction."
Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas gifts revealed
