Now that the holiday shopping season is nearly upon us, what will this year be like?

Well, if what’s happening with the Royal Family in the UK is any example, it could be quite a dismal one.

Here’s the story from The Sun:

Faithful royal staff were devastated last night after the Queen axed the Buckingham Palace Christmas party in a cost-cutting drive.

Hundreds were looking forward to the lavish bash as it is the one time they can mingle with senior Royals.

But Her Majesty was determined to show solidarity with a nation struggling with hardship and called it off after consulting senior courtiers. One worker said: “It’s the first time in memory the party’s been cancelled. We’re all devastated as it’s a great night when everyone lets their hair down.

“The Royals mix freely with servants – it’s normal to see the Queen dancing with a footman or Prince Philip waltzing with a maid.

“The champagne flows like water and you feel your hard work has been appreciated. This won’t go down well.”

Some 1,200 guests were due at the £50,000 party, scheduled for December 13.

They included around 400 flunkeys from Buckingham Palace, Clarence House and Windsor Castle – plus 250 privately-employed staff from the Queen’s estates. The event, funded from the Queen’s private income, is held every two years and had been pencilled in this year.

But a source close to the 84-year-old monarch said: “The Queen understands the situation the country is in and wanted to take a lead. Anything seen to be ostentatious was out of the question.”

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Given the current economic climate it was thought that it was appropriate for the Household to show restraint.”

Here was last year’s Christmas address by the Queen:

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