The Royal Family are famed for their tradition of exchanging humorous gifts during the festive season, but it seems the late Queen had her own unique approach to Christmas shopping. A former Royal insider has revealed how Her Majesty tackled the task of finding presents for her family, who arguably have everything they could wish for. The best of the best was the only option for the children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren of Queen Elizabeth II, so to ensure she could select the perfect gifts without setting foot outside her palace, the late monarch adopted an ingenious method.
This story was shared by ex-royal butler Paul Burrell. Known for their penchant for whimsical presents, reports OK!, the Queen had a distinct shopping strategy, as revealed by Princess Diana's one-time butler, Paul. Speaking to Closer magazine, he disclosed: "Firstly, she has catalogues sent to her, and then the Oxford Street branch of John Lewis sends her a selection of almost everything they stock. There is a little 'shop' set up in the drawing room at Windsor Castle and the Queen can pop in and choose gifts at her leisure. Late at night, after dinner, usually around 10pm, she'll pop into her little Christmas shop and do some shopping.".
The Queen is known for her practical approach to gift-giving, opting for items that can be put to good use rather than decorative trinkets. "The Queen always chooses practical gifts that can be used – never ornaments or decorative things. So she might pick some picnic plates, a tablecloth, or a couple of hand towels. Then they are wrapped up and a truckload of presents are ready to go to Sandringham," a source said.
