King Charles Known To Give ‘Bizarre’ Christmas Gifts To Royal Family Staff: He’d ‘Leave Funny Little Things’
King Charles III has a tradition of giving "funny" and sometimes "bizarre" Christmas gifts to his royal staff, according to a former butler.
Grant Harrold, who worked for the King for seven years, told The Mirror that these quirky presents, ranging from a tin of salmon to a salt and pepper grinder, are slipped into the staff's lockers at Highgrove, Charles' Gloucestershire home, during the festive season.
"We all used to have these pigeon holes where I'd get my post in the mornings, and what he used to do at Christmas, he used to leave funny little things," Harrold recalled.
"One time, he left a tin of salmon and one year, I got a salt and pepper grinder wrapped in a ribbon. He had probably been given a hamper, and sometimes there would be a lot in them, and he would give some of the bits to us. I just thought it was so bizarre because you don't expect those little things," the former royal butler added.
Harrold noted that the unusual gifts showed that King Charles and the royal family have "got that fun, practical side to them."
But he said the staff would also get "proper" presents, such as tea cups and saucers, whiskey glasses and water jugs.
Additionally, the staff reportedly would receive Christmas cards from the royals.
Harrold recalled receiving Christmas cards from King Charles and his two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, before the monarch married Queen Camilla.
"That was always quite special," the former royal staffer added.
Now that Charles is monarch, he likely oversees arranging gifts for even more staff members.
The late Queen Elizabeth II was known to buy over 600 presents for her staff, along with distributing an astonishing 1,500 Christmas puddings.
As for the royals' family tradition during the holidays, they are known to exchange silly gifts on Christmas Eve rather than expensive ones, according to People.
Kate Middleton reportedly once gave Prince Harry a plastic Grow Your Own Girlfriend kit for Christmas.
Another holiday tradition is the royal family's annual walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk on Christmas Day.
The royals, keen on maintaining Queen Elizabeth's traditions, will likely follow a schedule similar to the previous year.
After the present exchange on Christmas Eve and the morning service on Christmas Day, the family is expected to gather for a traditional Christmas lunch at Sandringham House.
While the expected attendees at this year's celebration in Sandringham remain undisclosed, it is anticipated that Prince William and Princess Kate, along with their three children, will join King Charles and Queen Camilla there on Christmas.
Queen Camilla also invited her children and grandchildren to the lunch, according to ITV.
However, Prince Harry and Meghan are not expected to attend, as they continue to reside in California with their children.
