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The Queen Buys A Christmas Pudding For Each Of Her 1,500 Employees

The Queen Buys A Christmas Pudding For Each Of Her 1,500 Employees

Tesco must be making a fortune off the Windsors' Christmas shopping, that's for sure

Paddy Maddison

Paddy Maddison

It's tradition at Christmas time for employers to pay their workforce a little token of appreciation by maybe padding out their December pay packet a little, or even just by slipping them a few gift vouchers inside of a standard company greetings card.

If these are the Yuletide bounties that we mere mortals can expect over the holidays, one can only imagine what delights await the employees of Her Majesty the Queen over this festive period.

Well, imagine no more, because it turns out old Liz gets each member of her 1,500 staff the same thing every year - a Christmas pudding.

Christmas pudding
Christmas pudding

Credit: PA

In a tradition started by her grandfather, George V, the Queen makes sure that each and every member of her work force receives a pud and a greetings card, each and every year.

A nice gesture, but - at risk of sounding like a dickhead - not exactly a bumper financial bonus, is it?

What's more, while it was reported in previous years that the pud-makers of choice were royal grocers Harrods or Fortnum and Mason, this year it's been downgraded to Tesco in an attempt to cut costs.

Credit: Tesco

However, if you're one of the few longstanding staffers, who have dedicated their entire lives to assisting Her Royal Highness, you may receive an additional gift.

According to reports in Hello!: "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."

But when it comes to her own family's Christmas day, the Queen likes to keep things nice and simple, too. The royal family famously buy joke presents for one another and, according to former royal chef Darren McGrady, their preferred Christmas roast is far from exciting.

"It was the same meal every year,' he told Hello!

"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."

queen
queen

'Tis the season to be jolly. Credit: PA

And for dessert?

"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."

Featured Image Credit: PA / Tesco

Topics: Christmas, UK News, Celebrity, Queen