In 1899, Queen Victoria decided to send a small brass box containing chocolate to her soldiers fighting in the Boer War. Approximately 123,000 of these gifts were distributed. They were well received and are a fascinating part of material culture from that war. World War I would see a similar royal gift – but this gift would not be directly from the sovereign – it would be part of a campaign led by King George V's daughter, Princess Mary. To discuss Princess Mary’s Christmas Gift, the World War I Podcast hosted Professor Peter Doyle, historian and author of For Every Sailor Afloat, Every Soldier at the Front: Princess Mary’s Christmas Gift 1914.
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