Prince Harry's wife Meghan Markle may not be attending the coronation next month, but when the couple were engaged she was invited to an intimate royal Christmas.
Usually unmarried partners of the royals are not allowed to attend these close knit events and even Prince William's now wife Kate was excluded while the pair were merely engaged.
But an exception was made for the now Duchess of Sussex in 2017, when the Queen broke with tradition inviting her five months before their wedding in May 2018.
READ MORE: King Charles III to make official State visit to Ireland just weeks after Coronation
The family has a tradition of swapping novelty gifts, with Meghan ready to join in the fun, no doubt she had heard from her husband Harry that he was once gifted a 'Grow your own girlfriend kit' by Kate a few years earlier.
The Duchess reportedly gifted Prince William a spoon engraved with the words 'cereal killer' as a joke present to use for his breakfast.
According to Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand's biography about the couple, Finding Freedom: "Meghan's biggest challenge was finding the perfect novelty gifts to amuse her new extended family.
"At least one of her gifts was a huge hit – a spoon for William that had 'cereal killer' embossed on the shallow bowl end of the utensil."
She also hit the mark when it came to her present for the late Queen too. She presented her with a singing toy hamster which was reportedly loved by the corgis.
The royals are known for their love of exchanging joke presents to one another on Christmas Day - with Prince Harry once famously gifting the Queen a shower cap emblazoned with the words, 'Ain't Life A B***h'.
Another of his presents to draw cackles of laughter was a singing bass fish, said to have been displayed proudly at Balmoral for many years to come.
King Charles once also unwrapped a leather toilet seat cover, courtesy of the wit of his sister, Princess Anne.
Plans for the King's coronation are well underway but they could see Prince Harry could fly home straight after the ceremony, it has been claimed.
The Duke of Sussex is to appear alongside his family in public at the coronation for the first time since he lambasted Charles, Camilla, William and Kate in his autobiography Spare.
Meghan will not be attending the ceremony, but instead remain in California with her daughter Princess Lilibet and son Prince Archie, whose birthday lands on the same day as the historic event.
Jennie Bond, a former royal correspondent for the BBC, believes that Harry will dash back to the US so he can celebrate his son turning four years old.
Further details also emerged about the celebrations, with the start set to be marked by a glittering Buckingham Palace reception on the eve of the coronation.
Princess Beatrix, the former queen of the Netherlands, has confirmed her attendance at the event, expected to be hosted by Charles, alongside her granddaughter and heir to the Dutch throne Catharina-Amalia, the Princess of Orange.
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