There’ll be a wide range of gift ideas to choose from, whether you’re shopping for kids, royal family fans or collectors of British chinaware. Hey, whatever floats your boat.
A regal spread
You can do your Christmas shopping at Buckingham Palace this year
In these trying economic times, we’re all looking to make a bit of extra cash. Even the royal family, it seems. For the first time, the Royal Mews at Buckingham Palace is being transformed into a pop-up Christmas shop. From November 14 to January 5, visitors can browse the festive range of official royal gifts, foods and drinks from Royal Collection Trust, a department of the Royal Household. So what can you expect to find? Here’s a taste of what’s on offer.
Imperial china
Official Royal Collection Trust chinaware – like this Royal Kitchen Cereal Bowl – is made in the UK. It’s cast, fired and decorated by hand at The Potteries in Stoke-on-Trent, following the same traditional techniques that have been used for the past 250 years.
Keep calm and drink gin
New products on offer this year include mini bottles of gin infused with botanicals hand-picked from the grounds of royal residences, including Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
A royal countdown
Add an imperial flourish to every day in December with the Buckingham Palace Chocolate Coin Advent Calendar. Search for the day’s date and open the wee festive door, and you’ll find a milk chocolate coin inside. It’s just like a regular advent calendar, except loads more monarchical. Bows and curtsies optional.
Pass the marmalade
Also newly launched is the Property of the Royal Kitchen range of kitchen accessories, which takes its inspiration from the Great Kitchen at Windsor Castle – the oldest working kitchen in the country.
A toast to their majesties
New wine accessories are also on offer, including crystal wine glasses, delicately etched with a pattern of knotted vines and grape leaves inspired by the Grand Punch Bowl, a majestic wine cistern in the Royal Collection known to have been used by Queen Victoria. The glasses are the perfect way to serve the Palace Collection sauvignon blanc or pinot noir.
Crown your Chrissy tree
Other highlights include tree decorations handcrafted in India using traditional embroidery techniques, which help keep jobs and traditional craft skills alive.
Buckingham bears
There are also children’s plushies made of 100 percent recycled materials.
Fit for a king (or queen)
Seasonal drinks and nibbles will also be available at the pop-up store, adding to the festive spirit. But for those who can’t make it to Buckingham Palace, you can still check out the full range at royalcollectionshop.co.uk. The income made from purchases contributes to the care and conservation of the Royal Collection.
