Prince Harry once gave the Queen a rather unconventional Christmas present that went down surprisingly well. The royals have a tradition of exchanging "gag gifts" on Christmas Eve, and Prince Harry took this tradition to the extreme with his gift for the late Queen. On the TV show A Very Royal Christmas: Sandringham Secrets, it was revealed that Prince Harry bought his regal grandma a shower cap that said "ain't life a b**h". While the Queen may have found the gift hilarious, former royal butler Paul Burrell wasn't sure if she would have used it on a daily basis.
Meghan Markle's Joke Present
Meghan Markle also got in on the action with her own joke present for the Queen. The former actress reportedly gave the late monarch a singing hamster toy, although it may have been more appreciated by the corgis. According to Paul Burrell, the corgis would have torn the furry clockwork hamster to pieces in seconds, making it a better present for them than for the Queen.
Prince Harry's Pranks
Prince Harry is known for his playful nature and has pulled off some memorable pranks on his family members. In addition to the shower cap, he once gave the Queen a "pool of plastic sick", according to Paul Burrell. It seems that Prince Harry always tried to think outside the box when it came to finding presents for his grandmother.
A Christmas Tradition
The royals have a long-standing tradition of exchanging gag gifts on Christmas Eve. The aim is to bring some laughter and light-heartedness to the holiday festivities. As royal editor Katie Nicholl points out, if you can make the Queen laugh with a tongue-in-cheek present, then you've truly succeeded in your Christmas gift-giving.
Not Everyone Enjoyed Christmas at Sandringham
While Christmas used to be one of the Queen's favorite times of the year, not everyone in the royal family was a fan of the Sandringham celebrations. Princess Diana, for example, did not enjoy spending Christmas with the Windsors. She preferred to disappear into her room as much as possible and would often seek solace in conversations with the staff.
Continuing the Tradition
After the Queen's passing, Christmas at Sandringham is now being continued by King Charles and Queen Camilla. This year will be their second Christmas without the late monarch. Prince Harry, on the other hand, is expected to celebrate Christmas in California with his wife Meghan and their children Archie and Lilibet. Hopes for improved relations between Harry and the Royal Family were revealed when he broke six months of silence to call King Charles and wish him a happy birthday.
