Meghan Markle's gift to Queen met with 5-word statement and lasted just hours
When it comes to buying a present for the person who has everything, what do you get? The Royal Family are notorious for their funny tradition of buying each other gag gifts, with previous presents including a leather toilet seat, a 'grown your own girlfriend kit' and even a shower cap which had “Ain’t life a b****”.
And just like many before her, Meghan Markle was successful with the first gift she bought the late Queen during her first Christmas at Sandringham.
The future Duchess reportedly chose to give the monarch a singing toy hamster – and the monarch was so impressed by it she remarked: "It can keep my dogs company."
A source said: "Meghan bought a little hamster that sings with a little rope for Her Majesty. It was so funny, especially when the corgis tried to take hold of the toy."
However, the Queen wasn't able to enjoy its song for very long as her beloved corgis ended up mauling it to pieces before the festive celebrations were over.
Another royal first was the present the Princess of Wales gifted the monarch which she later admitted she was very nervous about.
In an ITV documentary celebrating the Queen's 90th birthday, Kate shared the story behind her own thoughtful gift. She reminisced: "I can remember being at Sandringham, for the first time, at Christmas. And I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present."
"I was thinking, 'Gosh, what should I give her?' I thought back to what I would give my own grandparents and I thought, 'I'll make her something,' which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny's recipe for chutney. I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table," reports the Mirror.
"I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me and I've noticed since she's done that on lots of occasions and I think it just shows her thoughtfulness, really, and her care in looking after everybody."
When it comes to gift-giving, the royals have their own twist which dates back to something started by the King's great-great-great grandmother, Queen Victoria. The royals follow the traditional German festive custom of opening presents on Christmas Eve.
Royal expert Robert Jobson told The Express: “On Christmas Eve when all the clan are together, the Queen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren put the finishing touches to the 20ft Christmas tree in the White Drawing Room.
"Presents will be opened that day at tea time as the royals still keep to the German practice of opening their gifts on Christmas Eve. Gifts are laid out in the Red Drawing Room on a white linen-covered trestle table, with cards marking exactly where the piles of gifts should be put."
