Skip to main contentSkip to footer

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn commission. Read our full commerce guidelines here.

The gift the Queen gives her staff every Christmas revealed

The royal family have a lovely Christmas tradition at the palace

the queen smiling
Sharnaz Shahid
Deputy Online Editor
Share this:

It's previously been hailed one of the best seasonal treats, and each year, the Queen presents her staff with this special yuletide gift - Tesco's Finest Matured Christmas Pudding.

MORE: How to host a Christmas dinner party like Kate Middleton, the Queen and other royals

Although the royal family are known for giving each other "funny" presents, the monarch makes sure a pudding is ordered for each of her 550-odd staff member.

WATCH: Christmas decorations at Windsor

Prior to the Tesco sweet treat, the Queen used to hand out puddings from Harrods or Fortnum & Mason - which holds a warrant as royal grocers - as festive gifts.

READ: The Queen cancels pre-Christmas family lunch 'with regret'

MORE: 8 amazing photos of the royal family's last Christmas at Windsor Castle

Each year, the order was made up of more than 1,000 puddings, which meant the switch to Tesco saved the royal purse a considerable amount.

Meanwhile, for those who have worked for Her Majesty for a considerable amount of time, they are also handed a voucher. It has been reported that the handing out of Christmas vouchers to staff is regiment, with the most senior household staff going first, followed by clerks and then domestic workers and gardeners.

queen christmas

The Queen gives her staff the same gift each Christmas

The Queen, 95, tends to host Christmas for the royal family at Sandringham House in Norfolk each year. However, due to the pandemic, this has changed. Last year, Her Majesty spent the festive season in Windsor Castle for the first time in 33 years.

MORE: What do the royals eat on Christmas Day? Their menu and traditions revealed...

Her annual gift giving ceremony for her staff was also reportedly cancelled. Every year, the Queen personally hands out presents to some members of the royal household at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle to thank them for their service. At the time, the Daily Mail reported the annual ceremony did not take place amid social distancing rules.

When it comes to Christmas with the royals, presents for the family are placed on trestle tables which they get to open on Christmas Eve.

tesco christmas pudding

Tesco Finest Christmas Pudding, £8, Tesco

Darren McGrady - the former chef to the Queen, Diana Princess of Wales and Princes William and Harry - previously told HELLO! Online: "It was the same meal every year. They're actually boring when it comes to festivities! They didn't do hams or anything, just traditional turkeys. We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children's nursery and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch."

After lunch the royals would go for a walk around Sandringham Estate, then come back to watch the Queen's speech. "Not long after they'd go in for afternoon tea," said Darren. "It was always the chocolate Yule log, which was a twist on the chocolate birthday cake, scones, mince pies, different types of sandwiches and the Christmas cake.

"We'd make one big Christmas cake for the Queen and the royal family and then another smaller one for the nursery for Prince William, Prince Harry, Zara, Peter, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. It was always fruit cake – royal icing, marzipan and the traditional fruit cake."

Make sure you never miss a ROYAL story! Sign up to our newsletter to get all of our celebrity, royal and lifestyle news delivered directly to your inbox.

HELLO!'s selection is editorial and independently chosen – we only feature items our editors love and approve of. HELLO! may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. To find out more visit our FAQ page.