{"id":653647,"date":"2025-12-25T07:08:32","date_gmt":"2025-12-25T07:08:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/653647\/"},"modified":"2025-12-25T07:08:32","modified_gmt":"2025-12-25T07:08:32","slug":"royal-familys-unusual-christmas-plans-from-sleeping-arrangements-to-strict-gift-rules","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/653647\/","title":{"rendered":"Royal Family’s unusual Christmas plans from sleeping arrangements to strict gift rules"},"content":{"rendered":"

From candlelit six-course dinners to casual countryside strolls \u2013 we look at how the royal family will be celebrating Christmas today, and reveal some little-known festive facts\"KateKate and her family are an integral part of Christmas Day at Sandringham(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

As is tradition, King Charles and Queen Camilla <\/a>will host this year\u2019s festivities on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, continuing a custom set by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip<\/a>. The royal residence will be a hive of activity today with the couple set to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales<\/a> and their children, Prince George<\/a>, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, as well as the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, and James, Earl of Wessex, 18.<\/p>\n

Anne, Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, are also expected to attend, along with Zara and Mike Tindall<\/a> and their three children, plus Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their families. \u201cThere are only two occasions in the year when the whole family gets together for any length of time \u2013 during the summer at Balmoral, and then at Christmas<\/a> at Sandringham,\u201d says royal author Katie Nicholl. \u201cFor the King, Christmas Day is also the one day of the year when he doesn\u2019t read the government papers in his red box. It\u2019s a religious day and the only day he can fully switch off, just as his mother used to.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"RoyalThe Christmas church service is one of the longest-standing traditions for the royal family(Image: Samir Hussein\/WireImage)<\/p>\n

Last year, some 45 guests attended the three-day Sandringham gathering, believed to be the family\u2019s largest ever festive get-together \u2013 and as the vast property is said to have around 29 bedrooms and more than 100 rooms, it was more than able to cope with the extra guests.<\/p>\n

Invites were extended to Camilla\u2019s family, including her son Tom Parker Bowles<\/a> and his two children, as well as her daughter Laura Lopes and her family. Camilla\u2019s sister Annabel Elliot, <\/a>who is one of her personal aides, was also part of the fun.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe whole house is crammed with people,\u201d says royal correspondent Richard Palmer. \u201cApparently, the royal protection officers camp out in a little side room in sleeping bags. Every bit of space is used.\u201d<\/p>\n

The only royals not needing rooms are the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, who stay at their own home on the estate, 10-bedroom Anmer Hall. With the schedule set in stone, the festivities commence with a Christmas Eve tea of dainty sandwiches and cakes, followed by the exchange of light-hearted gifts.<\/p>\n

\"KateKate will be staying at nearby Anmer Hall with William, George, Charlotte and Louis\"KingKing Charles III has upheld some traditions but also introduced some of his own(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cOpening the gifts on Christmas Eve stems back to the family\u2019s German heritage,\u201d says Katie. \u201cThe ethos of the gifting is that they should be thoughtful presents, not overly extravagant or expensive. And anything that\u2019s funny or humorous gets the seal of approval.\u201d<\/p>\n

In his memoir, Spare , Prince Harry<\/a> \u2013 who once reportedly gifted his grandmother a shower cap bearing the message \u201cAin\u2019t life a b***h\u201d \u2013 describes the ritual as \u201ca free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper\u201d.<\/p>\n

Early evening drinks follow, with gin and Dubonnet or champagne typically served, then it\u2019s time for a glamorous, candlelit six-course dinner, with the men in black-tie and the women in evening dresses.<\/p>\n

Former royal chef Darren McGrady says the royals\u2019 Christmas meals are always ultra-traditional, including \u201ca fish course, salad and then often venison from the Sandringham estate\u201d. The feast is rounded off with dessert, typically a tarte tatin or chocolate perfection pie, \u201cwhich the Queen loved\u201d.<\/p>\n

Christmas at Sandringham has remained much the same for generations, but King Charles<\/a> is said to have eased some of the rules since he became head of the family. \u201cThings are not quite as strict as they were,\u201d says Katie. \u201cFor instance, in the late Queen\u2019s time there were up to six outfit changes on Christmas Day, which must have been exhausting. That was very much a generational thing, but it has been relaxed.\u201d<\/p>\n

After their Christmas morning breakfast, the family then sets off on their customary walk to St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate <\/a>for the 11am service, greeting festive well-wishers along the way.<\/p>\n

The lavish lunch that follows features Norfolk-reared roast turkey with chestnut stuffing, mashed and roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots, followed by a flaming Christmas pudding. Like millions across the UK and the Commonwealth, the whole family then gathers around the TV at 3pm to watch the King\u2019s pre-recorded Christmas message.<\/p>\n

\"KingThe king records his Chirstmas Day message in advance, allowing him to enjoy one day off in the year(Image: POOL\/AFP via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cLike the late Queen before him, Charles always insists on writing his speech himself,\u201d says Katie. \u201cSo far, he has consistently hit the right note, making sure no one is forgotten. He uses it as a way of connecting with the public and shining a spotlight on those who are vulnerable.\u201d<\/p>\n

Heading into the evening, the atmosphere becomes far more relaxed and jovial, and Katie tells us \u201cold-fashioned parlour games\u201d such as charades \u2013 the late Queen\u2019s favourite \u2013 are played.<\/p>\n

Of course, certain members of the royal family<\/a> will be conspicuous by their absence. Last year Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson weren\u2019t present and have reportedly been \u201cdisinvited\u201d this Christmas, in light of the further fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein<\/a> scandal and the stripping of Andrew\u2019s royal titles.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs Andrew continues to find himself caught up in various furores, I think the King is of the view that it\u2019s better to keep him out of the spotlight at Christmas,\u201d says Richard. \u201cWith the eyes of the media on them, it\u2019s probably better for all concerned.\u201d<\/p>\n

Also unlikely to be part of proceedings are the Duke and Duchess of Sussex and their two children, Archie, six, and Lilibet, four, although Richard believes \u201ca video call\u201d will most probably take place at some point during the celebrations.<\/p>\n

On Boxing<\/a> Day there will be a hearty breakfast of kedgeree \u2013 the late Queen\u2019s favourite dish of curried rice with smoked haddock and hard-boiled eggs \u2013 before the customary outdoor pursuits on the 20,000-acre estate. \u201cThe Queen loved the Boxing Day shoot and she would famously be pictured out in her headscarf, picking up the game,\u201d says Katie.<\/p>\n

These days, however, there is talk of scrapping it, due to a decline in pheasant numbers on the estate, which the King is reportedly unhappy about. But even if shooting is ruled out, there will still be walks with the dogs<\/a> and a filling lunch.<\/p>\n

\"WilliamWilliam and Harry used to join their father on the annual shoot at Sandringham(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cThe hip flasks and hot drinks come out, as well as all the Christmas leftovers,\u201d says Katie. \u201cThe late Queen was very frugal, and the King is a pioneer of minimising food waste, too, so there\u2019ll be lots of cold turkey and ham. The royals love eating alfresco and they\u2019ll have their picnic whether rain or shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

More than three years after her death, the late Queen\u2019s absence will, of course, still be felt by all the family. \u201cShe always adored Christmas,\u201d says Katie. \u201cAnd I think as much as the King puts his own stamp on it, she\u2019s never going to be far from everybody\u2019s mind.<\/p>\n

Her loss is felt at many points during the year, but Christmas is the time when she is particularly missed and remembered.\u201d<\/p>\n

Thankfully, the growing younger generation of royals are on hand to help lighten the mood, and as Katie points out, having the children around is one of the highlights.<\/p>\n

\"PrincessKatie says the younger generations – such as Princess Charlotte – get to enjoy two Christmas celebrations(Image: Samir Hussein\/WireImage)\"QueenBut Christmas is not just for the royal children of course(Image: Getty Images)<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always a time of much excitement, and Charles and Camilla love doing things with the little ones, like finishing decorating the trees,\u201d she says. \u201cThe Wales children also have the bonus of celebrating Christmas twice \u2013 once with the King and Queen and then with Granny and Grandpa Middleton.\u201d<\/p>\n

The holiday doesn\u2019t quite end on Boxing Day for everyone, though, as the King and Queen head off to Scotland<\/a> ahead of New Year<\/a> \u2019s Eve. As Katie tells us, \u201cThe late Queen used to stay longer at Sandringham, but Charles and Camilla go to Birkhall near Balmoral, because they love seeing in Hogmanay there. That\u2019s one of the newer traditions the King has brought in, and it\u2019s a very special time for them.\u201d<\/p>\n

After yet another challenging year for the royals, this festive period will undoubtedly carry a renewed sense of hope and gratitude. \u201cThe difficulties of the past 18 months, marked by the ill-health of both King Charles and the Princess of Wales, will make it an even more poignant and special time,\u201d says Katie. \u201cWe\u2019ve heard Kate talk so movingly about the importance of love and family during her cancer recovery \u2013 that gives these occasions extra significance.\u201d<\/p>\n

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