Royal family Christmas traditions: The Prince and Princess of Wales with their three children at the Together At Christmas carol concert
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For 70 years, Queen Elizabeth II was at the centre of the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations. This year, for the third time, they will be led by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. It is expected that the couple, much like last year, will continue a favourite festive custom previously championed by the late monarch, by attending church in Sandringham in Norfolk on Christmas Day.
The Christmas Day visit to Sandringham Church is a beloved occasion for royal watchers, the outing gives members of the public an opportunity to see the royals in their winter finery, with family members including the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, having attended in recent years.
This Christmas will be another especially poignant one for the royals as the third since the death of their much-admired matriarch, the late Queen. Undoubtedly it will be a time of reflection. It has been a difficult year of highs and lows for the Royal Family: from the King and Kate Middleton’s health battles and further distance with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the announcement Princess Beatrice is to welcome a second child in the spring.
The King has opted to maintain continuity in attending church on Christmas Day, like his mother before him, but what other royal traditions is the monarch likely to maintain? Tatler takes a look back at more of the family’s favourite festive customs from years gone by…
Christmas cards
King Charles III and Queen Camilla’s 2022 Christmas card
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