Revealed: The surprising gift the Queen and Prince Philip give to their 1,500 staff for Christmas (and it comes from TESCO)
- The Queen gives each member of her 1,500 staff a Christmas pudding
- Tradition dates back to her grandfather, George V and her father George VI
- Switched to Tesco puddings instead of Fortnum & Mason to cut costs
It is not uncommon for employees to receive a Christmas gift or bonus from the boss at this time of year - and it seems staff working for the Queen are no exception.
According to palace officials Her Majesty provides gifts for all 1,500 members of staff helping to keep the royal household ticking over.
The official website of the royal family reveals that the Queen gives a Christmas pudding to each and every member of her staff - a tradition handed down by her father, King George VI and her grandfather, George V.
Each Christmas the Queen gives each of her 1,500 staff a Christmas Pudding as a gift
The puddings which are distributed to employees throughout the Palaces, in the Court Post Office and among the Palace police are accompanied by a greeting card from the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
In previous years the Monarch is reported to have favoured puddings from Harrods or Fortnum & Mason - which holds a warrant as the royal grocer - but has since swapped to a rather more ordinary retailer.
Hello! reports that the Queen opts for Tesco's Finest Matured Christmas Pudding, having switched to the budget option in order to cut costs in the royal purse.
Longer standing members of staff are given vouchers along with their festive dessert.
The monarch previously gave out puddings from Harrods and Fortnum & Mason before switching to Tesco to cut costs
Hello! reports: '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.'
When it comes to gifting each other presents the royal family lay out their presents on trestle tables and will exchange their gifts at teatime on Christmas Eve.
The royal family's Christmas is one steeped in tradition with family members gathering at Sandringham from Christmas Eve until Boxing Day.
Prince Philip leads the family on the 330-yard walk to the 16th Century church of St Mary Magdalene on Christmas morning. The Queen, however, is driven. The service is always about 45 minutes, the Queen having received Communion privately in the morning.
The Royals enjoy bespoke Christmas crackers made by Dorset company Celebration Crackers. Everyone wears paper hats except the Queen. Party games are popular, as are cards.
For lunch on Christmas Eve, the men wear suits and the women wear smart silk dresses, but they change into black tie and glamorous gowns for dinner. It’s the one time the women wear their most expensive jewellery and almost all wear tiaras.
On Christmas Day, they come dressed in their church outfits – usually a day dress or a smart suit with pearls for the women. For the traditional walk to church, the men don warm overcoats.
After a turkey dinner made up of three birds - one of which will be taken to the nursery for Charlotte and George - the royals will watch the Queen's Speech at 3pm.
Most watched News videos
- English cargo ship captain accuses French of 'illegal trafficking'
- Brits 'trapped' in Dubai share horrible weather experience
- Shocking scenes at Dubai airport after flood strands passengers
- 'He paid the mob to whack her': Audio reveals OJ ordered wife's death
- Appalling moment student slaps woman teacher twice across the face
- Shocking moment school volunteer upskirts a woman at Target
- Crowd chants 'bring him out' outside church where stabber being held
- 'Inhumane' woman wheels CORPSE into bank to get loan 'signed off'
- Chaos in Dubai morning after over year and half's worth of rain fell
- Shocking footage shows roads trembling as earthquake strikes Japan
- Prince Harry makes surprise video appearance from his Montecito home
- Murder suspects dragged into cop van after 'burnt body' discovered
