This Is How The Royal Family Spend Their Christmas Time

The royal family get up bright and early on Christmas morning in order to attend the service at St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, but what happens after?

royal xmas

by Charlotte Roberts |
Updated on

The Royal family are a firm fixture when it comes to our own Christmas celebrations - from Kate Middleton's carol concert to the King's Christmas Day speech.

But if you've ever found yourself wondering how the royal family spend their own Christmas day, you're not alone. The royals (and their unique way of living) are a fascination across the world - and one that was only amplified after last year's festivities saw our first one without the late Queen Elizabeth II.

What does Christmas at Sandringham look like? Do they sit around the tree and give each other pressies? Do they also indulge in the crimbo celebrations and have to write off their boxing day plans? Is charades a part of their annual festivities? The questions are endless - and we've got the answers.

How do the royal family spend Christmas?

Even though we imagine Christmas at Buckingham Palace would be perfect (and indeed very fancy), the royal family don't actually spend their Christmas there. Instead, they retreat to their beloved Sandringham, the royals' country estate in Norfolk. This has been a longstanding tradition in the family since 1988 - bar the festivities of 2020 and 2021, when coronavirus restrictions meant even Prince Philip and the Queen had to remain at Windsor Castle.

Before the Queen died, tradition meant their celebrations would begin on Christmas Eve. The family lay out their presents on trestle tables and exchanged their gifts at teatime. It's probably best they get their presents out the way the night before the big day, as the family are up bright and early the next morning to attend the Christmas Day morning service at St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham. (The Queen was said to go to worship not once in the morning, but twice.)

According to royal expert Emily Andrews, royal Christmas celebrations aren't too dissimilar today - with King Charles upholding many of the traditions set out by his mum.

King Charles III and Camilla, Queen Consort, during last year's 'Together at Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. Credit: Yui Mok via Pool/Getty Images

Opening up about the royal celebrations last year, she told Grazia, 'King Charles is hosting a traditional Christmas at Sandringham, Norfolk, this year in honour of his mother. For the past two years, like many families, the Royals had to cancel their normal Christmas plans due to Covid and the late Queen stayed at Windsor Castle, so it will be a poignant festive season for the Royal Family, reflecting on the loss of their beloved matriarch.'

'But they will keep many of her family traditions, such as presents the night before on Christmas Eve, a family walkabout after the Sandringham church service, and an early lunch so everyone can watch the King’s speech at 3pm.' Emily continues.

And, like last year, it doesn't seem likely that Harry and Meghan will be on the guest list. Talking about the Sussexes Christmas plans last year, Emily adds, 'Harry and Meghan, along with their children Archie and Lilibet, were invited to come [last year] but they declined. Probably sensible given the furore of their Netflix series, although also a missed opportunity to try and repair family relationships.'

How do Kate Middleton and Prince William spend Christmas?

Kate and William may celebrate their Christmas with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis at their home, Adelaide Cottage.

'It's expected that Prince George and Princess Charlotte will join their parents for the traditional walkabout,' reveals Emily, 'With Prince Louis perhaps even putting in an appearance! The adult royals celebrate Christmas with a black tie supper on Christmas Eve, and leave presents for each other on trestle tables set up within the Sandringham dining room.'

Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, attending an event with Queen Elizabeth II during 2020. Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo - Pool/Getty Images

What presents do the royals get each other for Christmas?

'Joke or homemade gifts are the order of the day - Harry once gave the Queen a shower cap with “Ain’t Life A B***h”, while Princess Anne gave Charles a personalised leather toilet seat,' Emily says.

'Kate revealed that for her first Royal Christmas in 2011, she was extremely nervous about her present for the Queen - a pot of chutney made from her own granny’s recipe - but she was extremely relieved when it was on the Christmas lunch table the next day.'

Well, there's that then! If you've still got some crimbo shopping to do, jokey presents are certainly the royal way...

But according to royal expert Ingrid Stewart, if you're spending Christmas inside the Firm, you need to pack with a host of glamorous outfit changes in mind. She reveals that there's 'a strict timetable, a large number of outfit changes, and a minefield of protocol and tradition.'

What do the royal family have for Christmas dinner?

After the family have attended the service at St Mary Magdalene, the family celebrate the day by tucking into a traditional Christmas dinner.

‘Guests are expected to enter the dining room in order of seniority,’ Ingrid explains. Then the head chef carves the turkey, and after eating, the crackers are pulled (although the Queen never wore a paper hat.) The family will then walk off their dinner, but not until after sitting down to watching the monarch's speech. Then there's tea - with a gargantuan iced cake - which is then followed by a candlelit dinner.

Do the royal family really get weighed on Christmas day?

On Boxing Day, we presume there's a lots more eating and, erm, some shooting...

But if you've seen Spencer, starring Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana, you might also be wondering if it's true that guests are weighed before and after their stay. Apparently yes, that weird tradition IS a thing. As the festive period revolves around eating, the late Queen apparently ensured that guests ‘weigh themselves’ on a pair of antique scales, says Ingrid. This happens before and after their visit, and is a tradition harking back to Edward VII, who wanted to ensure his guests ate well.

The late Queen also used to give a gift to all members of The Royal Household, and was known to personally hand out presents to some members at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle. She also gave Christmas puddings - accompanied by a card - to 1500 of her staff, which was a tradition started by her grandfather, George V. It's thought Charles has continued this tradition.

Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Giles' Cathedral, the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, and various churches and schools in the Sandringham area also receive Christmas trees from the monarch.

Unfortunately, we don't know if there's any Christmas classics they watch every year... But we like to imagine they end their festive period the exact same way we do - cosying down with a cup of tea, and a rerun of Love Actually.

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