How Covid-19 scuppered Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas traditions: the British monarch’s festive gift-giving extravaganza was a formal and joyous occasion – until the virus came along

Jan 11 , 2021

Despite not being able to connect with staff this past Christmas, Queen Elizabeth nevertheless spoke to the nation as usual during her annual Christmas broadcast in Windsor Castle on Christmas Day 2020. Photo: Reuters

Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip’s highly personalised Christmas gift-giving ceremony was just another royal tradition affected by the pandemic in 2020: here’s what should have happened

During any other January, the queen would be putting her feet up right about now after a frenzied gift-giving season. However this year, due to the pandemic, many of the presents in question were not handed over personally by HRH – and just as well. With about 620 staff members on her Christmas shopping list, she allots a generous budget of at least US$40,000 solely for presents each year, according to Marie Claire.

Queen Elizabeth meets the public on a Christmas Day before the pandemic. Photo: @theroyalfamily/Instagram

One of the things she is most famous for, for example, are her Christmas puddings. She is believed to send out 1,500 every year – before enjoying one for herself, of course.

As reported on Insider, the queen traditionally gives boxes of pudding to her staff, including those working at the Court Post Office and the palace police force. The pudding deliveries arrive with a note signed by both herself and Prince Philip.

Giving out puddings as Christmas presents is in fact a royal tradition that began with King George VI, the queen’s grandfather.

Along with the pudding comes a bevy of items too. A former royal aide revealed to a British newspaper that the presents usually include “a book token or a small piece of china from the palace gift shop.”

A gift voucher is also often handed to staff members who have been in service for more than a year, while others receive a seasonal bonus.

Before the Covid-19 pandemic, the queen would hand them over personally to her staff members in a gift-giving ceremony, usually held in one of Buckingham Palace’s state rooms. Each person lines up to receive their gifts, allowing the queen to express her regards personally, wish them a pleasant Christmas, and thank them for all their help throughout the year.