Royals

How Diana broke the royal rules at Christmas

Dec 11, 2021

Diana’s unconventional approach to Christmas in the Royal family has been revealed. Source: Getty

The People’s Princess always did have a well-won reputation for breaking royal protocols. Christmas time was no exception, it turns out.

Diana’s former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, has revealed that the late Princess would return or give away some of Prince William and Prince Harry’s gifts to stop them from becoming spoiled.

The former security chief told Ok! Magazine that every festive season, the young princes would be sent mountains of gifts from businesses, as well as members of the public, The Mirror reported on Tuesday, December 7.

But in a parenting rule that many parents today might do well to heed, the Princess of Wales was so mindful that her children remain grounded, that she kept many of the presents away from William and Harry.

Said Wharfe: “Diana was very careful to ensure that they weren’t flooded with gifts – gifts did appear from unknown sources, and they were often returned or given to charity because they didn’t need them.”

Princess Diana and young Prince William and Harry in London — Doting mum Diana takes Prince William and Prince Harry to the Christmas Carol Concert at Wetherby School on December 13, 1989 in London. Source: Getty

Diana herself was also “very conscious about what she bought” when it came to buying festive gifts for her family because she “knew the hallway at Sandringham would be full of presents,” Locke added. He also praised the devoted mother of two for getting hands-on and shopping for toys and books for her sons personally, instead of merely sending staff.

“She was very generous with gifts,” shared Locke. “She knew the ground floor plan at Harrods and Harvey Nichols and shopping was always a hands-on experience.”

It appears that Diana’s eldest son William might have inherited her commendable mindset regarding Christmas gifts; by ensuring his own three kids – George, 8, Charlotte, 6, and Louis, 3 – don’t find piles of presents under the Christmas tree on December 25.

Royal author Duncan Larcombe told The Mirror:

“Something we know for sure about William and Kate is that they want their children to feel normal and so they certainly won’t be lavishing them with expensive gifts, that’s for certain. They won’t let them be spoiled.”

However, Larcombe also suggested the young royal couple would be treating their children to three Christmases “rolled into one” this year.

“There will be Christmas on their own with their kids, the more formal celebrations at Sandringham with William’s family and then time with Kate’s family, the Middletons,” said Larcombe.