The Queen spent a whopping ‘£30,000 on 620 gifts for family and staff,’ a former aide revealed.
In addition, she also sent 750 Christmas cards to friends, relatives, various British Commonwealth delegates, and members of the Royal Household.
The source told Fabulous Digital that around two weeks before Christmas, staff are told to go a room in Buckingham Palace to claim their gifts from the Queen.
“Here they line up to receive a wrapped gift from the Queen, and she says a few words to each of them – usually something like “Thank you so much for all your help during the year”, followed by Happy Christmas,” they said.
“The presents are usually a book token, or a small piece of china from the palace gift shop, and most years she gives them a small Christmas pudding in a box as well.”
If staff can’t leave their duties on those days, the Household will send the presents along with a card – which is signed by Prince Philip and the Queen.
According to the royal’s website, staff in the Court Post Office and Palace police and palace workers also received Christmas puddings.
The aide that the gifts are selected online by the private secretary’s office and the chosen stores would send ‘van loads of stuff to her look at.’
“It was like her very own royal shopping mall. But it’s not done now, it’s one of those things that she doesn’t really need to expend her energy on as she gets older,” the aide added.
One internet user commented: “That’s not a lot of money. It averages to less than $81 per person. She can easily afford it.”
Another wrote: “The people making negative comments about the Queen obviously don’t know anyone in their 90’s. Just to stand for hours and shake hands is amazing for anyone her age. I bet most people half her age couldn’t stand for that long.”
A third said: “She is amazing.”
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Replaced!