<\/a> Hello Royal Clubbers,<\/p>\n It\u2019s Tracy here. As the royal family prepare to gather at Sandringham this week for their Christmas celebrations, I\u2019m taking you behind the scenes of their festive get-together. <\/p>\n I caught up with royal author Robert Jobson, who shared the Firm\u2019s strict Christmas Day timetable, as well as the \u201cunspoken rule\u201d the family abide by.<\/p>\n Share<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n The Prince and Princess of Wales are expected to join the King and Queen at the royal estate in Norfolk, along with their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.<\/p>\n <\/a> Prince Edward and Sophie are also expected, along with their children Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, as are Princess Anne and Zara and Mike Tindall, and their three children.<\/p>\n Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie are also on the guest list, although we won\u2019t see their parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who have become outcasts thanks to their association with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.<\/p>\n As has been the case since they moved to California, Prince Harry and Meghan and their children, Prince Archie, six, and Princess Lilibet, four, will be absent again.<\/p>\n The festivities begin on the morning of Christmas Eve, when family members arrive at Sandringham House, the monarch\u2019s private country retreat. But Christmas for the royals isn\u2019t the same relaxed affair that most of us enjoy. Rather, they are on a strict timetable, with multiple outfit changes over three days.<\/p>\n <\/a> \u201cThere\u2019s an unspoken rule for guests: do not arrive late. There is no grace period,\u201d royal author Robert Jobson told me. \u201cAfter completing the odd custom, dating back to Edward VII, of being weighed on antique jockey\u2019s scales, guests are on the clock.<\/p>\n \u201cThey change for a formal lunch, served by royal staff in the dining room. Afterwards, most go on an afternoon walk \u2013 one of the few moments when the schedule loosens up. But even then, they are on a timer. By 5pm, everyone must be back for afternoon tea.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s an unspoken rule for guests: do not arrive late. There is no grace period,\u201d Robert Jobson <\/p>\n<\/div>\n On Christmas morning, royal fans start queuing at dawn so they can catch a glimpse of the family on their way to and from St Mary Magdalene Church.<\/p>\n \u201cWhat many do not realise is that the King and his family will have been to church once already that morning for a private service, away from the cameras and onlookers,\u201d Robert reveals.<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/substackcdn.com\/image\/fetch\/$s_!ktpl!,f_auto,q_auto:good,fl_progressive:steep\/https%3A%2F%2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2F81b8f5b2-b970-4566-83ce-3f8b127c9b8d_5237x3312.jpeg\")
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