The Royal Family will spend Christmas at Sandringham House – the Queen’s Norfolk estate, with the exception of Meghan Markle and Prince Harry who have decided to give the annual festivities a miss this year. However, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are expected to get involved in the giving of presents – which has been know to cause a stir inside the royal household.

According to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams, the royals handout “cheap and jokey” presents to one another and open them on Christmas Eve.

The royal expert recalled some of the gifts which have cause controversy inside the royal circle, including a toilet seat given by Princess Anne to Prince Charles.

In another occasion, Prince Harry gave his grandmother, the Queen, a shower cap with a naughty slogan.

According to Mr Fitzwilliams, the newest members of the Royal Family are prone to making gaffs when it comes to gifts, he recalls the time when Princess Diana made the mistake of buying expensive presents.

Mr Fitzwilliams told Express.co.uk: “Royals buy presents for each other that are notoriously cheap and jokey.

“Diana made the error of buying them expensive presents for her first Christmas.

“Some have become well known, like the lavatory seat Anne gave Charles or Harry’s reported gift to the Queen of a shower cap with the slogan ‘Ain’t life a b***h?’ emblazoned on it.

“The Duke of Windsor once quipped that royal Christmases were ‘Dickens in a Cartier setting’ but though they are carefully arranged affairs with traditions including opening the presents on Christmas Eve.”

Royal commentator Grant Harrold also recalled the time the Princess of Wales fell foul of the rules, however he insisted the royals do indeed buy each other more “personal gifts” as well as the novelty presents.

He told Express.co.uk: “Princess Diana fell foul of the family ‘cheap and cheerful’ motto when on her first Christmas at Sandringham as a newly-wed in 1981.”

He added: “However, I would think that in private they will still give each other more personal gifts as we all do for our loved ones.”

On Christmas morning the Royal Family will go to St Mary Magdalene Churchin Sandringham, Norfolk.

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Last month the Palace confirmed Meghan, Harry and their seven-month-old son Archie will be spending the festive season with Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland.

The Palace acknowledged the decision is not a complete surprise as other members of the Royal Family have previously chosen to spend Christmas elsewhere, and the decision has been approved by The Queen.

In both 2012 and 2016 Prince William and Kate, Duchess of Cambridge spent Christmas with her parents Carole and Michael Middleton.

Details of where Meghan and Harry will be spending the festive period was not disclosed by the Palace, which has led to speculation they could be jetting-off to LA or Meghan’s mother could be flying to the UK.

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