EXCLUSIVE: From bargain hunting in Balmoral to shopping sprees in overseas markets, OK! asks former royal butler, Grant Harold, how The Firm really do their Christmas
What do you buy the man who has everything? Something practical or fun, but always affordable, says King Charles’ former butler, Grant Harrold. “The King hates being given anything extravagant and expensive. He’d be embarrassed if you spent a fortune on him. He’d say, ‘That’s lovely but you really shouldn’t have.’ So, at Christmas , I used to give him books on Victorian gardening or honey-based products because I know how much he loves honey.
Queen Camilla is more of a forward planner. Last year, during an official visit to Nairobi, she bought a “rather large haul” of gifts in a market, including blankets, jewellery and a pot of cashew butter, which she declared was “one up on peanut butter.” “In the old days, they’d close a whole store for Princess Diana. But that doesn’t happen now,” explains Grant. “The royals are very discreet. There’s always a bodyguard with them for protection, but people don’t recognise them because you don’t expect to see a King or a future Queen browsing in your local store.”
In his book Spare, the Duke of Sussex recalls the merry mayhem: “By custom, at the start of the night, each of us located our place stood before our mound of presents. Then suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time. A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper.”
“There are serious gifts given, too,” says Grant. “You’ll see the royal ladies wearing a new necklace and you’ll just know it was a Christmas present. And, of course, Santa still visits Sandringham. I like to think that on Christmas Day morning the children will have lots of presents in their stockings or under the tree.”
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Inside Kate Middleton and Prince William's Christmas with their royal childrenEXCLUSIVE: The Prince and Princess of Wales are making sure this Christmas will be one to remember for their young family following a turbulent year
Read more »
Kate Middleton and Prince William May Abandon Royal Christmas Eve TraditionIn royal tradition, Kate Middleton and Prince William are expected to spend Christmas at Sandringham Estate with King Charles and other royal members. While they will observe traditional activities such as exchanging joke gifts, attending church, and playing board games, they are considering abandoning the annual Christmas Eve gift exchange, a practice rooted in the family's German heritage and favored by the late Queen Elizabeth.
Read more »
Kate Middleton plans to axe 'weird' Royal Family Christmas tradition when she becomes QueenThe Royal Family have a number of Christmas traditions that they adhere to every year, but it seems that one particular custom is on the way out when Kate Middleton becomes Queen.
Read more »
Kate Middleton plans to axe Royal Family Christmas tradition she finds 'weird'The Royal Family have a number of Christmas traditions that they adhere to every year, but it seems that one particular custom is on the way out when Kate Middleton becomes Queen.
Read more »
Kate Middleton and Prince William kept huge secret from royal childThe Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are known to want their children to experience as normal a childhood as they can - meaning they kept one major secret from their eldest son George
Read more »
Kate and Prince abandon Christmas plans for sake of royal childrenEXCLUSIVE: The Prince and Princess of Wales are keen for their three children to grow up as 'normal' as possible, and this is reflected in how they plan to celebrate Christmas
Read more »