The royal family have some strict traditions at Christmas and one of those is about the exchanging of gifts, which one top royal ‘misunderstood’ before ‘hitting the nail on the head’
Princess Diana wasn’t aware of the family tradition of ‘silly gifts'(Image: Getty Images)
The festive action actually begins on Christmas Eve at Sandringham, when afternoon tea of dainty sandwiches and cakes is served to all the arrivals. Then the lights are dimmed and the doors to the ornate Red Drawing room open for the exchange of presents – but not everyone always gets it right. “Opening the gifts on Christmas Eve stems back to the family’s German heritage,” says royal author and correspondent Katie Nicholl.
“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. Prince Harry once put a whoopee cushion on the late Duke of Edinburgh’s chair, and Princess Anne bought Charles a leather toilet seat – both of which were met with hilarity.” Harry also once gifted his grandmother a shower cap bearing the message “Ain’t life a b***h”, while Prince William reportedly surprised her with a pair of slippers adorned with her face.
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The late Queen changed into six different outfits on Christmas Day(Image: Getty Images)
Charles takes a more relaxed approach – in some areas, at least(Image: Getty Images)
Writing in his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry also described the opening of the presents. “We were at Sandringham in a big room with a long table covered with white cloth and white name cards,” he wrote.
“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.”
The late Princess Diana, new to the family in the 1980s, unfortunately misunderstood the joke gift idea. “She gave out expensive cashmere, which was not the done thing,” says Katie. But the following year, she hit the nail on the head by presenting Sarah, the Duchess of York, with a leopard-print bath mat.
The family make time for friends, games and the exchange of joke gifts(Image: BBC/Shine TV/Matt Porteous)
After the mayhem of the gifts comes early evening drinks, 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 and tiaras.
Once dinner is over, there are card games and films, although nothing with too much swearing. On Christmas Day morning, breakfast might be a cooked spread or a continental option, but according to Darren, Charles has always preferred freshly poached plums from Highgrove, along with muesli, dried fruits and honey.
Post-breakfast, the family set off on their customary walk to St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate for the 11am service. “It’s something they’ve always done,” says royal commentator Richard Palmer. “They’re a religious family, and though I don’t think the King’s faith is as staunch as his mother’s was, he’s still a serious believer in Christian values. William and Kate are not avid churchgoers, but they still always attend with their children.”
Back at the main house, Christmas lunch is the standard fare of Norfolk-reared roast turkey and chestnut stuffing, with mashed and roast potatoes, parsnips and carrots, followed by a flaming Christmas pudding. Then the whole family gathers round the TV at 3pm to watch the monarch’s pre-recorded Christmas message.
Like most families, the royals enjoy their mince pies and glasses of fizz(Image: Getty Images)
Charles and Camilla head off after Christmas to spend Hogmanay at Birkhall, near Balmoral in Scotland(Image: Getty Images)
Resisting the urge for an afternoon nap, they like to stroll around the estate to sharpen the appetite for afternoon tea, comprising sandwiches, mince pies, chocolate Yule log and Christmas cake. They are then encouraged to dress down for the evening’s entertainment.
“They love playing old-fashioned parlour games,” says Katie. “Charades always used to be the Queen’s favourite.” However, Monopoly is said to be banned, with a source calling it “too vicious”. Later, there is yet more food, with an informal buffet of cold meats, chutneys, salads and charcuterie.
On Boxing Day morning, there’s a hearty breakfast of kedgeree – the late Queen’s favourite dish of curried rice with smoked haddock and hard-boiled eggs. Then it’s time for outdoor pursuits on the 20,000-acre estate.
“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 hams. The royals love eating al fresco, and they’ll have their picnic whether rain or shine.”
The Boxing Day shoot is a long-standing tradition for the royals(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
Traditionally, Boxing Day afternoon marks the end of the celebrations and everyone goes their separate ways. In the past, a weigh-in was held to ensure everyone had been suitably well fed. It dated back to the era of Edward VII, with 3lbs considered an appropriate gain – but, thankfully, the archaic custom seems to have died out.
The holiday doesn’t quite end there for everyone though, as the King and Camilla head off to Scotland. 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.”
The Royal Family at Christmas
The most wonderful time of the year is officially upon us – and few families embrace the spirit of Christmas quite like the British royals. As the all-important day draws closer, this special edition of OK! unpacks all the traditions of the royal Yuletide.
We explore what goes on at Sandringham, as well as the work that goes into sprucing up the royal residencesWe display some rarely seen photographs from the family’s festivities over the yearsWe also revisit Kate’s carol concerts, the family’s encounters with Santa, and check out customs enjoyed by other monarchies across Europe
Here’s to it inspiring some wonderfully merry moments of your own! Click here to purchase your edition for £9.99
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