6th December 2021 – The historic Ceremony of the Christmas Cheeses returned as a physical event with industry guests and Chelsea Pensioners reunited this year at the Royal Hospital Chelsea.
The history of cheesemakers donating cheeses to the Royal Hospital dates back to the opening of the Royal Hospital when Sir Christopher Wren asked local cheesemongers to donate cheese to the Pensioners the year the hospital opened – 1692. After that, local cheese makers continued making ad hoc donations and sixty-two years ago, this became an officially organised event.
We may not have been donating our cheese since 1692(!) but this is definitely a ritual that starts our Christmas, and one that we will never forgo.
We're so pleased that the ceremony was able to return as a Covid-safe in person physical event this year.
To find out more about the Ceremony of the cheeses, please visit Dairy UK.
