Did you have a hard time figuring out what to get your in-laws for Christmas this holiday season? Well, at least you didn’t have to find a gift fit for a Queen! It turns out that last Christmas, Kate Middleton was having a bit of worry over what to give her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth. What do you get someone who has probably received every gift imaginable?
“I thought, ‘I’ll make her something,'” she told the BBC, “which could have gone horribly wrong.” So Kate made a homemade treat for her husband’s grandma–her own grandmother’s chutney recipe. Everyone loves a thoughtful, homemade gift, so Kate had nothing to worry about. She said, “I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table.”
The gift was a success. Kate’s homemade marrow chutney impressed the Queen. “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.”
The Queen’s generosity and spirit have shown through again most recently, when she chose to break with royal family tradition and invite Meghan Markle, Prince Harry’s fiancee, to spend the Christmas holiday with the family at Sandringham. As royal family tradition dictates, they exchanged gifts and decorated their towering 20-foot tree together, then had tea, scones, and snacks. Finally, they’ll dressed for a formal dinner and church service.
“You arrive when told to arrive,” says royal historian Kate Williams. “There are quite a lot of different dresses required – change for church, change for dinner.” There is even a special walk for the Queen’s corgis in the schedule.
ADRIAN DENNIS / AFP – Getty Images
The royal family had a good time with Meghan Markle in her first holiday with them together since she and Prince Harry announced their engagement last month. Said Prince Harry of his soon-to-be wife, “It was fantastic. She really enjoyed it.”
Whether she bought a present or went the homemade route, let’s wish Meghan luck that she chose just the right gift for her future grandmother-in-law!
