In Our Queen at 90, the two-hour ITV documentary to air this coming Sunday, 27 March, the Duchess of Cambridge was one of 11 members of the Royal family interviewed to capture their personal memories of the Queen, her life and reign. This was the first solo interview for the Duchess where she recalls her first Christmas at Sandringham in 2011.
Kate wasn’t sure what to gift the woman who has everything. She struggled to come up with the perfect Christmas present.
“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?’”
Before long, she had her solution. “I thought back to what would I give my own grandparents. And I thought, ‘I’ll make her something.’ Which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney. I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table.”
The Duchess also remarked on how thoughtful and considerate the Queen is to everyone in all the little things she does.
“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.”
She also revealed in what other ways the Queen shows how she cares for those she loves, especially her great grandchildren, Prince George and Princess Charlotte. Kate spoke about the presents she leaves in the rooms of her children when they come to stay.
She “always leaves a little gift or something. That just shows, I think, her love for her family.”
The marrow chutney recipe can be found in Kate’s sister’s book, Celebrate. The recipe is titled “Granny’s Marrow Chutney” and takes many hours of preparation. Kate didn’t specify which granny the recipe came from, but her maternal grandmother, Dorthy’s mother worked as a cook.
To hear even more stories and memories about the Queen from the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, the Duke of York and many other royals, be sure to watch Our Queen at 90, airing this Sunday evening.
I’m sure I’m not the only person who’s imagined what it would be like to be a member of the Royal Family; to have noble titles and live in palaces and castles with an army of staff to wait on you. I always thought it would be fun, at least for awhile.
But it never occurred to me that I’d have to figure out what to give Her Majesty at Christmas! After all, what does one give to a lady who already has everything?