How Kate Middleton’s Homemade Chutney Gift Won Over the Queen

As Christmas approaches, the Royal Family is gearing up for their traditional celebrations at Sandringham.

The family members will exchange gifts on Christmas Eve, and there is reportedly one rule when it comes to presents: the cheaper and cheekier, the better.

However, finding the perfect gift for each other can be a challenge, especially when it comes to buying a present for the Queen.

In 2011, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, managed to pull off the perfect Christmas gift for her grandmother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II.

It was Catherine's first Christmas with the Royal Family, and she felt pressured to find a suitable present for the monarch.

In an interview for the 2016 ITV special Our Queen at 90, Catherine shared her experience of finding the perfect gift for the Queen.

“I can remember being at Sandringham for the first time at Christmas and I was worried about what to give the Queen as her Christmas present,” Catherine revealed in the interview.

“I was thinking, gosh, what should I give her?

I thought back to what I would have given my own grandparents, and I thought, I'll make her something, which could have gone horribly wrong.”

Catherine decided to make her granny's recipe for chutney, and to her surprise, the chutney was well received.

“I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table,” she explained.

“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.”

According to Royal expert Duncan Larcombe, Catherine's inspired choice of wholesome homemade chutney made the perfect first impression.

Speaking in a special edition of OK!

Magazine, released to celebrate the Duchess of Cambridge's 40th birthday, Duncan explained the significance of that humble Christmas gift.

“The homemade chutney gift was absolutely spot on, down to earth, practical and frugal, everything Her Majesty loves,” Duncan added.

But it also showed that Catherine could relate to the Queen as a normal grandmother and not just the head of state, and it helped forge a bond built on mutual respect and admiration.

Vanity Fair's royal correspondent and commentator, Katie Nicholl, believes the Duchess continued the momentum of goodwill and continued to make decisions that were respected by Her Majesty.

“As soon as the engagement was announced, Catherine was over at Buckingham Palace seeking as much guidance and advice as she could get,” Katie added.

She spoke with ladies-in-waiting, private secretaries, and those who worked closely with the Queen so she could learn about her future role.

“She wanted to know what a state banquet entailed, how to conduct herself on a walkabout, and what to expect on regional tours.

She wanted to get it right.”

The Duchess of Cambridge's eagerness to do things the right way pleased the Queen.

The Queen was very impressed when Prince William's then-girlfriend, Kate Middleton, declined an invitation to Sandringham for Christmas until they were married.

“That delighted and relieved the Queen greatly because she is well aware it is not an easy thing to marry into the royal family.

The choice to make the Queen a jar of chutney proved to be a fruitful decision in more ways than one.”

Katie Nicholl says the gift laid the foundations for their close bond in the future.

“But she liked Catherine straight away and never had any snobbiness about her being a commoner.

She realized there were huge advantages to William's dating a regular, middle-class girl as it made the royal family seem modern and relatable.”

In conclusion, Catherine's homemade chutney gift was a simple yet thoughtful gesture that won over the Queen.

It showed that Catherine could relate to the Queen as a normal grandmother and not just the head of state.

The gift laid the foundations for their close bond in the future, and Catherine's eagerness to learn about her future role in the royal family pleased the Queen.