Unusual way Queen Elizabeth does her festive shopping - ‘Pop into her Christmas shop'
THE QUEEN has an unusual way of doing her Christmas shopping, which is very different from your average Christmas shopper.
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Being such a familiar face, the 95-year-old monarch doesn’t want to draw attention by hitting the high street shops. At the same time Her Majesty has a large family with eight grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren to buy presents for.
Former Royal Butler Paul Burrell, who worked for the Queen and Princess Diana, has revealed her unique approach.
Speaking to Closer magazine, Burrell explained the monarch has catalogues sent to her including one from the Oxford Street branch of John Lewis.
However, as Burrell explains it’s the next part of the process that is both familiar and unusual.
He said: “There is a little ‘shop’ set up in the drawing room at Windsor Castle and the Queen can pop in and choose gifts at her leisure.
“Late at night, after dinner, usually around 10pm, she’ll pop into her little Christmas shop and do some shopping.”
According to Burrell, just because the Queen has her own special way of beating the crowds and has her own shop it doesn’t mean she buys luxury gifts.
He said: 'The Queen always chooses practical gifts that can be used – never ornaments or decorative things.
"So, she might pick some picnic plates, a tablecloth, or a couple of hand towels.”
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Usually, the Royal Family spend Christmas together at Sandringham so as Burrell explains the gifts need to be transported there.
He said: “Then they are wrapped up and a truckload of presents are ready to go to Sandringham.”
This year the coronavirus pandemic has ruined the traditional Royal Christmas at Sandringham.
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Therefore, it may have taken longer than usual for family members to receive their gifts from the Queen’s special Christmas shop.