Princess Kate Middleton shared a personal story about her first Christmas with the royal family and how a homemade gift for Queen Elizabeth II became an unexpected hit.
Speaking in the 2016 ITV documentary Our Queen at Ninety, which was released to commemorate the Queen’s 90th birthday, Kate recalled the pressure she felt when choosing a Christmas present for Her Majesty.
Reflecting on her early days as a member of the royal family, the Princess of Wales admitted she was anxious about finding the perfect gift.
“I can remember being at Sandringham for the first time at Christmas. And I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present. I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’” Kate confessed in the documentary.
After much contemplation, Kate decided on a personal approach and opted to make something special with her own hands. “I thought, ‘I’ll make her something.’ Which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney,” she added.
Though Kate admitted she was nervous about the unconventional nature of the gift, her worries were quickly put to rest the following day when she noticed the chutney had found a place on the royal table during Christmas dinner.
The simple gesture of making a homemade chutney deeply touched Queen Elizabeth II, and Kate felt an immense sense of relief and warmth when she saw it so appreciated.
“I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table,” Kate said, emphasizing how meaningful the Queen’s response was. “I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me, and I’ve noticed since she’s done that on lots of occasions, and I think it just shows her thoughtfulness, really, and her care in looking after everybody.”
