The most wonderful time of the year is officially upon us – and few families embrace the spirit of Christmas quite like the British royals. Sandringham is set to be a hive of activity, with King Charles and Queen Camilla expected to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh with Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
As well as a few of the normal Christmas rules and traditions that exist in most households around the country, there are a few more unique ones, from both past and present. Here’s a wrap of some festive facts about Christmas in the royal household…
The late Queen Elizabeth II shunned a private vehicle in favour of a train at Christmas -Credit:Getty Images
MAKING TRACKS
For many years, Queen Elizabeth II chose to travel to Sandringham for the Christmas holiday via train rather than a private vehicle, arriving from London at King’s Lynn Station in Norfolk in a specially-reserved carriage.
MATCH OF THE DAY
As youngsters, Prince William and Prince Harry enjoyed a traditional game of Christmas Eve football at the Sandringham Estate, alongside members of the royal staff and often against villagers from nearby Castle Rising.
A younger Prince William and Prince Harry enjoy a Christmas Eve kickabout at Sandringham -Credit:GC Images
CROWNED AT CHRISTMAS
Christmas Day has witnessed one royal Coronation, when William I “The Conqueror” was crowned King at Westminster Abbey on 25 December, 1066, after defeating King Harold II at the Battle of Hastings.
SPECIAL DELIVERY The first Christmas cards sent by the royal family were delivered in 1843 after the introduction of the penny post. A card signed by “Elizabeth” and “Bertie” from Christmas 1929, the Duke and Duchess of York (the future King George VI and Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother), included a photograph of them with their three-year-old daughter, Princess Elizabeth of York – who went on to become Queen Elizabeth II.
A WARM WELCOME
Since King Charles ascended to the throne, the rules surrounding Christmas guests have been relaxed. Queen Camilla’s children and grandchildren – who were not able to join previously as they were not members of the immediate royal household – now join the rest of the family for the seasonal festivities at Sandringham.
The Christmas guestlist has grown in recent years with the addition of Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Parker Bowles -Credit:Getty Images
ROYAL BIRTHDAYS
There have been two royal births on Christmas Day – Princess Alexandra, the Queen’s cousin, born on Christmas Day in 1936 and the daughter of the late Duke and Duchess of Kent. Also, Princess Alice, Duchess of Gloucester was born in 1901 and died in 2004 aged 102.
GORGEOUS GIFTS
As part of the Dolls’ House given to her for Christmas in 1924, Queen Mary received a miniature edition of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol, which measures only 5cm in height and is one of 200 books in the house.
BRIMMING WITH STYLE
It is customary for the women in the royal family to wear some sort of hat or fascinator for the Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham. The Princess of Wales often favours a pillbox style hat, while other royal women wear wide-brimmed designs or chunky headbands.
Kate always hits the right notes with her Christmas attire, especially her headwear -Credit:UK Press via Getty Images
GLAMOROUS GOWNS
The family is required by tradition to wear black-tie to the Christmas Eve dinner, which means tuxedos for the men and floor-length gowns for the women.
TREE-MENDOUS TRADITION
The first Christmas speech, delivered by King George V in 1932, was written by The Jungle Book author Rudyard Kipling. Today, they are penned by the reigning monarch, often with input from their spouse and top aides.
An image published in the Illustrated London News in 1848 of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert and their family gathered around their Christmas tree is credited as being the flashpoint for the start of the Christmas tree tradition in the UK.