The Queen's personal dresser has revealed the surprising cleaning trick she uses to shine Her Majesty's silverware and diamonds — and you don't have to be of royal descent to give it a go yourself.
According to Angela Kelly, who has worked with the Queen since 1994, her Royal Highness' dressers get her jewels sparkling by simply using water and a splash of gin.
Published in her new book, The Other Side of the Coin: The Queen, the Dresser and the Wardrobe, Angela says: 'A little gin and water come in handy to give the diamonds extra sparkle. Just don’t tell the jeweller!'
This royal way of cleaning is something that has been done for centuries, with previous generations even soaking their jewels in gin overnight to remove any tarnishing. In the morning, the jewellery would be rinsed, revealing a new shine.
In her book, Angela also opens up about how she gets the Queen's clothing ready for events such as weddings, christenings and public outings, giving a behind-the-scenes insight into what happens behind the closed doors at Buckingham Palace.
How does this cleaning method work?
If you want to give your jewellery a clean using this simple technique, it's easy for everyone to try with any leftover gin. If it's good enough for Her Majesty, it's surely good enough for us...
1. Simply pour a small amount of gin onto a cotton pad and rub it over your jewellery. Thanks to its high level of alcohol, any grease or bacteria will be removed.
2. If you have some dirtier silverware, you can also try soaking it in gin and water for around 30 minutes.
3. Remember, if you do have something highly valuable it's always best to check with a professional cleaning service.
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15 wooden Christmas trees perfect for your home this festive season
Finished in light natural wood and adorned with a beautiful beaded centre, this wooden Christmas tree from George at Asda is topped with a lovely star. And at £35 for a 5ft tree, it is one of the most affordable that we've found this year.
This festive wooden wall tree is a great low maintenance alternative to a real or artificial one. Strung together on eco-friendly jute rope, the natural grain wood branches are decked with forest green mistletoe leaves and copper and gold berries for a sparkly touch. Simply display on your wall or door with the handy loop.
Fira Studio Set Of Three Alternative Wooden Christmas Trees
Keep things minimal and Scandi this Christmas with this set of three wooden Christmas trees. It'll look great on the mantel or used as a table centrepiece.
If you're looking to make more of a statement, we love this array of colourful wooden Christmas trees from Etsy. As well as selecting the size, you can choose whether to have the colours matching or a mix of vibrant hues.
Some of the best small Christmas trees are wooden trees, and we love this tabletop version. It would go perfectly with Scandi or minimalist Christmas decor.
Bombus Alternative Wooden 4ft Christmas Tree
This 4ft tree made from birch plywood features charming festive cut-out stars. and would look wonderful draped with fairy lights. It's a more expensive purchase, but can be reused every year and is sure to delight each time.
For those who like to have something a little quirky in their home at Christmas time, this driftwood wooden tree is about as unique as it gets. Made-to-order from actual pieces of kiln-dried driftwood, it can be decorated however you'd like – and can even work as a piece of art when December is over.
Decorated with pine cones, realistic-looking acorns, twigs and sprigs of greenery, this miniature wooden Christmas tree is ideal for side tables.
With 80 warm white LED lights, this tabletop twig tree is as much a festive light as it is a piece of decor. Pop it on a sideboard or a bedside table.
Supplied as a self assembly kit, all you have to do with this wooden Christmas tree is screw the stainless steel rod into the base, and then slide the oak branches down one after the other. It's available in two sizes: standard and large.
Here's another wooden ladder tree, this time from John Lewis. Made from twigs and string, it's decorated with baubles, sprigs and pine cones. It's also available in a red colourway too.
Made from sustainably sourced hazel coppice, this tall wooden tree could easily stand in for your normal green one. It's a super eco-friendly option, and easy to assemble, too – just slot the branches into the log base in any formation you like.
The Natural Wood Company Alternative Oak Christmas Tree
We love the versatility of this oak Christmas tree. Each branch can be moved independently around the central trunk, so it can be arranged however you wish – whether it's as a spiral, flat tree or any other design.
Illuminated by lights, this wooden Christmas tree – depicting a snowy village scene – makes for a wonderful centrepiece. The decoration holds eight LED warm white lights which create a soft glow.
These adorable wooden trees will transport you straight to a Nordic wonderland. Handmade and available in varying heights, we'd suggest arranging a collection of them (you can buy up to three in a single purchase) on a coffee or dining table.
