And now, the fruits of their labour have been distributed to Armed Forces communities in a bid to spread a little festive magic at the end of a difficult year.
The Royal British Legion revealed that the royal Christmas puddings had been given to serving military, volunteers and others supported by the charity as part of its Together at Christmas campaign.
Charles Byrne, RBL director-general, said: “Christmas can be a time when people’s financial worries or feelings of loneliness, isolation or anxiety are heightened, this year more than ever as people continue to adapt to life during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“We want all those within our community who may be feeling the pressures of the season to know that there is extra support available and the Legion is here for them.
“Bringing people together, combating loneliness and helping individuals and families feel connected is an important part of our work all year round.”
In keeping with a tradition believed to have been introduced by Queen Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, all four royals mixed silver commemorative sixpences into their puddings for good luck.
A new recipe was created for the event, with the Queen and her successors adding poppy seeds to the mixture, in a nod to the RBL’s symbol of remembrance.
The Legion’s first Together At Christmas events were due to be hosted at high street locations, care homes and Legion branches, but the pandemic forced the gatherings to be moved online.
The RBL has sent 99 puddings to families in the UK, others in Spain and Fiji, and to service personnel deployed in Bahrain this Christmas.
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