Meghan Markle's present for Queen only lasted a few minutes when disaster struck
The Royal Family are well known for their strange and unique festive traditions, from opening their presents on Christmas Eve to allegedly banning the game Monopoly because it becomes too "vicious". Another funny tradition sees them buy each other joke gifts at Christmas time, 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****" written on it.
For royals who spend their first Christmas at Sandringham, the pressure of buying gifts for the family must be enormous. While some have reportedly struggled, the first present Meghan Markle bought for the late Queen went down very well.
When it comes to gift-giving, the royals have their own twist which dates back to something started by the late Queen’s great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. The royals follow the traditional German festive custom of opening presents on Christmas Eve.
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Royal expert Robert Jobson told The Express in 2021: “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.
"Once everyone has arrived, the royal guests enjoy a traditional Christmas that includes putting the finishing touches on the Christmas tree and the giving of cheap and humorous gifts."
Meghan Markle's first Christmas with the Royal Family saw her triumph with the gift she chose to give her future grandmother-in-law. Meghan reportedly chose to give the late Queen 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.
While these gifts are supposed to be utterly bizarre, there is one present that was gifted by the Princess of Wales that highlighted a sentimental break with tradition.
Speaking in a 2016 ITV documentary in celebration of the Queen's 90th birthday, Kate revealed what the thoughtful gift was. The Princess explained: "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. 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."
