Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

Kate Middleton's 'savage' Christmas present for Harry - and he opened in front of Queen

It's going to be a tough Christmas for the royal family, and there will be many loved ones missing from the dinner table this year. Of course no absence will be felt more than that of the late Queen, who passed away earlier this year, but the Sussex family will also be skipping this year's festivities.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle along with their children Archie and Lilibet will stay in California rather than join up with King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales at the family's Sandringham estate next week.

It comes off the back of Harry and Meghan's explosive Netflix docuseries, during which they complained about their treatment when they were working members of the royal family.

However, in years gone by, Harry was a key part of the family's festive celebrations and he spent almost every year with his nearest and dearest.

Kate once bought Harry a rather bold gift (Getty Images)

And one year his once close sister-in-law Kate is believed to have bought him a rather bold joke present - but luckily it went down a treat.

It came before Harry started dating Meghan and was single following a string of high-profile relationships.

So what was the present Kate gifted him? It was a 'grow-your-own-girlfriend' kit.

And to make things even funnier, the family all sit down and open their Christmas presents together - which means the late Queen would have been watching when Harry opened it up.

Prince Harry alongside his sister-in-law Kate (PA)

T here is a very specific time when the gifts are opened - and it's not when most people open theirs.

Rather than race from their bedrooms on Christmas morning to open their presents - they actually do it the day before on Christmas Eve.

In fact, the exact time the present exchange takes place is thought to be around 6pm in Sandringham's white drawing room.

William and Kate with Meghan and Harry on Christmas Day in 2018 (PA)

The royals have to sneakily place their gifts in the room earlier that afternoon without being caught.

This year, Kate will be spending Christmas at Sandringham with Prince William, George, Charlotte and Prince Louis as King Charles hosts the first festive season of his reign.

It is likely to be an emotional time for the royals as they face their first Christmas since the death of the Queen.

Royal Christmases usually feature a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, the greeting of well-wishers, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

Charles has pre-recorded his historic, first-ever Christmas Broadcast as monarch, where he will no doubt reflect on the loss of his mother and her legacy.

Traditionally, members of the royal family sit down to watch the televised address when it airs after lunch, usually at 3pm on December 25.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.