Buckingham Palace to open its first ever Christmas shop – here’s what to expect

Royalists and Christmas enthusiasts will soon have an exciting new Christmas outlet this coming holiday season, as Buckingham Palace will be opening up its first-ever festive retail space to the public from November 14 to January 5 at the Royal Mews.

The palace’s 200-year-old stables will experience a festive makeover before it’s reopening for the winter as a festive pop-up shop.

This move is particularly significant given that the Mews is typically closed to visitors during these months.

The shop, run by the Royal Household’s charity, the Royal Collection Trust, will feature a bespoke collection of official royal gifts, decorations, food, and drink, with every purchase going towards supporting the Trust’s mission to conserve the royal family’s extensive art collection.

Visitors will have the opportunity to browse from a wide selection of unique goods that draw inspiration from the monarchy’s residences and history.

Here’s a short list of what people can expect at the pop-up shop:

• Shoppers can pick up small-batch gin distilled using botanicals sourced directly from the grounds of both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.

• The collection includes kitchenware inspired by the Great Kitchen at Windsor Castle, renowned as the oldest working kitchen in the country.

• The shelves will also stock hand-embroidered ornaments made in India, intricately designed crystal wine glasses inspired by Queen Victoria’s Grand Punch Bowl, and children’s plush toys made from 100% recycled materials.

• A full-sized Advent calendar will offer daily reveals of limited edition and collector’s items.

The pop-up is free to enter and will undoubtedly become a keen tourist must as we head into the winter months.

If you can’t make it to the palace, not to worry; the full collection is also available on the Royal Collection website and at the Trust’s other shops.