While Prince Harry prepares for a quiet Christmas in California this year, far from the traditional festivities at Sandringham, memories of his more involved past within the royal fold still sparkle. Notably, the Duke of Sussex once had a particular talent for selecting the perfect, hilarious Christmas gift, especially for his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
The Royal Tradition of Joke Presents
The British Royal Family's Christmas celebrations, hosted by King Charles at the Sandringham Estate, are famously filled with light-hearted fun. A key tradition is the exchange of humorous, often kitsch, gag gifts on Christmas Eve, adhering to German custom in a nod to their heritage. Lavish presents are strictly forbidden, with the focus instead on silliness and heartfelt homemade items.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl once noted that the ultimate goal was to make the late Queen laugh. "If you can achieve something that is tongue in cheek, and will have the Queen laughing, then you've really done well that Christmas," she said. "The more kitsch, the better."
Harry's Unforgettable Gifts to the Queen
Prince Harry, now 41, proved to be a master of this peculiar art. His most famous offering to his grandmother was a singing fish ornament. The gift was reportedly such a hit with the monarch that she displayed it 'proudly' at Balmoral Castle, one of her favourite residences. The item even inspired a scene in the Netflix series The Crown, though the show inaccurately credited Prince Andrew with the present.
Another audacious gift from Harry to the Queen was a shower cap emblazoned with the phrase "Ain't life a b***h". He was not alone in his comedic efforts. Princess Anne once gifted her brother, then-Prince Charles, a leather toilet seat cover, and the Prince and Princess of Wales reportedly gave Harry a 'grow your own girlfriend' kit during his bachelor days.
Fractured Relations and Christmas Absence
Prince Harry last joined the royal family for Christmas in 2018, months after his wedding to Meghan Markle. Since then, with relations remaining severely strained, he has not been invited to the large Sandringham gathering. This year, he will mark the day at his home in Montecito with Meghan and their children, Archie and Lilibet.
In his memoir, Spare, Harry reflected on both the warmth and the chill of royal Christmases past. He recounted receiving what he described as a 'cold-blooded' gift from his great-aunt, Princess Margaret: a biro pen with a tiny rubber fish wrapped around it. He later mused that he and Margaret, both 'spares' to the heir, shared an unspoken bond of understanding.
The festive period at Sandringham, complete with its "lethal martinis" and table laden with joke presents, continues without Harry. Yet, the legacy of his perfectly-pitched humorous gifts, particularly the singing fish that delighted his grandmother, remains a charming footnote in the annals of modern royal history.
