This holiday season, the British Royal Family is once again blending cherished traditions with modern touches as they gather to celebrate Christmas.
In a year full of tough changes and uncertainty for the royals, the annual festivities at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk allow even the Windsors to enjoy a moment of peace and get stuck into a turkey dinner just like the rest of us.
This year’s royal guestlist includes King Charles III, Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales with their children, Princess Anne and her family, and Prince Edward, the Earl of Wessex, along with his wife with their children.
Notably absent will be Prince Andrew, who has been convinced not to attend by his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson following his past controversies and recent scandal over his ties to an alleged Chinese spy.
The late Queen Elizabeth II hosted the gathering every year at the sprawling 20,000-acre Sandringham Estate, a place steeped in history since its construction in 1870 by Queen Victoria for her son, Prince Albert Edward.
Harry and Meghan – who remain estranged from the royal family, will not be spending Christmas with the Firm, instead spending the day at their home in California.
‘The King has made it very clear that he still wants them to feel part of the family so they likely will receive an invite,’ royal expert Grant Harrold told the Mirror.
But ‘it will be unlikely they will attend, with Meghan’s mom being in the US and their whole family being there,’ he added.
Christmas Eve kicks off with a family gathering in the White Drawing Room to put the finishing touches on the Christmas tree before a lavish gift-giving ceremony.
In a nod to their German heritage, the family exchange gifts on the night before Christmas – a lively and informal ‘free-for-all,’ where presents are more about humor and creativity than grandeur.
Prince Harry discussed the family’s Christmas Eve traditions in his memoir Spare, and said: ‘We were at Sandringham in a big room with a long table covered with white cloth and white name cards. By custom, at the start of the night, each of us located our place, stood before our mound of presents.
‘Then suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time. A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper.’
Elsewhere in the same memoir, Harry wrote how one year his great-aunt Princess Margaret gifted him a fish biro and how Meghan gave him an ornament of his grandma, the Queen, in 2020.
They then get changed and enjoy a black tie dinner before the main events of the following day.
A grand Christmas lunch awaits back at Sandringham, featuring traditional dishes enjoyed together around a festive table. In the afternoon, the royals may tune in to King Charles’ Christmas message, a heartfelt address to the nation.
One of the more eyebrow-raising customs involves weighing guests before and after the Christmas feast. This practice, believed to have originated with King Edward VII, is said to ensure everyone has eaten heartily.
The evening often concludes the same way many of ours do – with the family sitting around the fireplace playing board games, charades (a favorite of the late Queen Elizabeth II), and just some enjoying some quality family time.
