Princess Diana was well-known for breaking royal traditions to ensure her sons Prince William and Prince Harry could grow up as normal as possible.
And it appears this wish applied to Christmas too, with the late princess eager to make sure her sons were never spoiled.
According to her former bodyguard, Ken Wharfe, Christmas gifts would show up at the palace for William and Harry from unknown sources.
But because Diana was so mindful about not showering her children in presents, she would sometimes return gifts that people would send to them or donate them to charity.
Mr Wharfe told OK! : "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.
“She was very conscious about what she bought as she knew the hallway at Sandringham would be full of presents."
According to Mr Wharfe, gifts Diana enjoyed buying for her boys included books, games and videos - but she never sent her staff to buy them.
He explained: "She was very generous with gifts. She knew the ground floor plan at Harrods and Harvey Nichols and shopping was always a hands-on experience."
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Meanwhile, it appears that Diana's mantra when it comes to Christmas gifts is something she's passed on to her son William.
According to royal expert and author Duncan Larcombe, William and his wife the Duchess of Cambridge are careful to make sure their children George, Charlotte and Louis aren't spoiled in any way.
He said: "I think we’re looking at three Christmases rolled into one for William and Kate and their children.
“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.
"But 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.”
