King Charles and Queen Camilla will host this year’s festivities on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, continuing a custom set by the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip.
The royal residence will be a hive of activity today with the couple set 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, Lady Louise Windsor, 22, and James, Earl of Wessex, 18.
Anne, Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, are also expected to attend, along with Zara and Mike Tindall and their three children, plus Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie and their families.
“There are only two occasions in the year when the whole family gets together for any length of time – during the summer at Balmoral, and then at Christmas at Sandringham,” says royal author Katie Nicholl. “For the King, Christmas Day is also the one day of the year when he doesn’t read the government papers in his red box. It’s a religious day and the only day he can fully switch off, just as his mother used to.”
Last year, some 45 guests attended the three-day Sandringham gathering, believed to be the family’s largest ever festive get-together – 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, reports the Mirror.
Invites were extended to Camilla’s family, including her son Tom Parker Bowles and his two children, as well as her daughter Laura Lopes and her family. Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot, who is one of her personal aides, was also part of the fun.
“The whole house is crammed with people,” says royal correspondent Richard Palmer. “Apparently, the royal protection officers camp out in a little side room in sleeping bags. Every bit of space is used.”
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.
“Opening the gifts on Christmas Eve stems back to the family’s German heritage,” says Katie. “The ethos of the gifting is that they should be thoughtful presents, not overly extravagant or expensive. And anything that’s funny or humorous gets the seal of approval.”
In his memoir, Spare , Prince Harry – who once reportedly gifted his grandmother a shower cap bearing the message “Ain’t life a b***h” – describes the ritual as “a free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper”.
Early evening drinks follow, with gin and Dubonnet or champagne typically served, then it’s time for a glamorous, candlelit six-course dinner, with the men in black-tie and the women in evening dresses.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady says the royals’ Christmas meals are always ultra-traditional, including “a fish course, salad and then often venison from the Sandringham estate”. The feast is rounded off with dessert, typically a tarte tatin or chocolate perfection pie, “which the Queen loved”.
Christmas at Sandringham has remained much the same for generations, but King Charles is said to have eased some of the rules since he became head of the family. “Things are not quite as strict as they were,” says Katie. “For instance, in the late Queen’s 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.”
After their Christmas morning breakfast, the family then sets off on their customary walk to St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate for the 11am service, greeting festive well-wishers along the way.
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’s pre-recorded Christmas message.
“Like the late Queen before him, Charles always insists on writing his speech himself,” says Katie. “So 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.”
Heading into the evening, the atmosphere becomes far more relaxed and jovial, and Katie tells us “old-fashioned parlour games” such as charades – the late Queen’s favourite – are played.
Of course, certain members of the royal family will be conspicuous by their absence. Last year Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson weren’t present and have reportedly been “disinvited” this Christmas, in light of the further fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein scandal and the stripping of Andrew’s royal titles.
“As Andrew continues to find himself caught up in various furores, I think the King is of the view that it’s better to keep him out of the spotlight at Christmas,” says Richard. “With the eyes of the media on them, it’s probably better for all concerned.”
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 “a video call” will most probably take place at some point during the celebrations.
On Boxing Day there will be a hearty breakfast of kedgeree – the late Queen’s favourite dish of curried rice with smoked haddock and hard-boiled eggs – before the customary outdoor pursuits on the 20,000-acre estate. “The Queen loved the Boxing Day shoot and she would famously be pictured out in her headscarf, picking up the game,” says Katie.
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 and a filling lunch.
“The hip flasks and hot drinks come out, as well as all the Christmas leftovers,” says Katie. “The late Queen was very frugal, and the King is a pioneer of minimising food waste, too, so there’ll be lots of cold turkey and ham. The royals love eating alfresco and they’ll have their picnic whether rain or shine.”
More than three years after her death, the late Queen’s absence will, of course, still be felt by all the family. “She always adored Christmas,” says Katie. “And I think as much as the King puts his own stamp on it, she’s never going to be far from everybody’s mind.
Her loss is felt at many points during the year, but Christmas is the time when she is particularly missed and remembered.”
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.
“It’s always a time of much excitement, and Charles and Camilla love doing things with the little ones, like finishing decorating the trees,” she says. “The Wales children also have the bonus of celebrating Christmas twice – once with the King and Queen and then with Granny and Grandpa Middleton.”
The holiday doesn’t quite end on Boxing Day for everyone, though, as the King and Queen head off to Scotland ahead of New Year ’s Eve. As Katie tells us, “The 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’s one of the newer traditions the King has brought in, and it’s a very special time for them.”
After yet another challenging year for the royals, this festive period will undoubtedly carry a renewed sense of hope and gratitude. “The 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,” says Katie. “We’ve heard Kate talk so movingly about the importance of love and family during her cancer recovery – that gives these occasions extra significance.”
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‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source uk.news.yahoo.com ’
