The Royals at Christmas

A Family Gathering

The royal family celebrate Christmas, just as most other families do. The Queen enjoys this special time of year, and likes to have her family around her. In the past, the royals gathered at Windsor Castle for the festivities, but in recent years, it is to Sandringham, the Queen’s inherited private estate in rural Norfolk, that the family go to. Sandringham was bought by the son of Queen Victoria, Edward, then Prince of Wales, and later King Edward VII. The Queen enjoys spending time on the estate, with many opportunities for her favourite pastime of horse riding. Traditionally the Queen travels by train from London to King’s Lynn station in Norfolk, and from there is driven to Sandringham House. The Duke of Edinburgh accompanies her. I think the Queen must feel that Sandringham is more of a home, with Windsor, although it is not the, ‘office,’ that she perceives Buckingham Palace to be, still having that element of work. Windsor is used for some state visits and banquets, although it is the Queen’s weekend retreat, being close to London.Therefore Sandringham must feel like a real Christmas break, much as Balmoral in Scotland does in the summer.

The Queen will arrive at Sandringham a few days before Christmas, such as the 21st December, which is the day the Queen arrived this year, 2018. But before, Her Majesty holds a special Christmas lunch gathering at Buckingham Palace for the wider royal family. Only the more immediate family of the Queen are invited to Sandringham, but like many of us who see the Christmas period as a chance to catch up with the extended family, the Queen likes to have a big Windsor family gathering. This year in 2018 it was held on 20th December. Many members of the family, including the Cambridge’s (Prince George and Princess Charlotte attended, and it is thought that Prince Louis may have too, along with their nanny, Maria Theresa Borrallo), and the Sussex’s. Meghan attended last year as Harry’s fiancee. Then there are the Queen’s cousins, whose own family’s are so large now that they spend Christmas today apart from the Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Kent, and their children and grandchildren and great-grandchildren attend, as do Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and their family, such as Lord Frederick and Lady Sophie Windsor, whose daughter Maud was a bridesmaid for Princess Eugenie in October this year. Princess Alexandra and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester are also usually present with their families. Princess Margaret’s children and grandchildren also attend, though they often spend time at Sandringham too, as they are closer to the Queen, and since they were young, Lady Sarah and Viscount Linley (now the Earl of Snowdon) have been taken under the Queen’s wing. Especially since their mother passed away, the Queen makes sure to still include them in these family occasions.

The Queen’s children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren will also be there. It may well be Jack Brooksbank’s first time attending this year, and he may well be at Sandringham too, with Princess Eugenie, who is known to cherish these family times with her, ‘Granny,’ the Queen. Unusually, Meghan attended Sandringham last year, and the Buckingham Palace lunch, as Harry’s fiancee, but normally the rule is, no ring (that is a wedding ring), no bring.

The Royals at Sandringham

So the Queen settles in to Sandringham, and her invited guests, usually numbering around 30, start to arrive, in order of precedence, meaning the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, as the most senior royals after the Queen and Prince Philip, arrive last, on Christmas Eve. The Cambridge’s stay in their own home Anmer Hall, which is located on the Sandringham estate and was a gift to them from the Queen. They use it as a rural bolthole. Last year Harry and Meghan stayed at Anmer rather than the big house, and may do so again. It can get rather cramped in the main house, with some having to share, or use staff quarters, to all fit in! I expect the Cambridge’s like having their own space, especially with young children. Some years, the Cambridge’s have spent Christmas with Catherine’s family, the Middleton’s, and spent New Year with the royals. I think this shows that the royals are open and aware that those who marry into the Windsor’s have their own family too, and commend William and Catherine for this. Previous married couples do not seem to have used this model; for example, the Wessex’s always spend Christmas at Sandringham and never with the Countess’s family, likewise, Peter and Autumn Philips (son and daughter-in-law of Princess Anne) also do not seem to spend Christmas Day with Autumn’s side of the family, similarly with Mike and Zara Tindall. Sometimes the Middleton’s have stayed at Anmer, and the Cambridge’s and Middleton’s have had their own Christmas Day lunch and celebrations at Anmer, but joined the royals at church. This year it is expected for the Cambridge’s to be at Anmer, and celebrate with William’s family at Sandringham House. Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland is rumoured to also be spending Christmas at Sandringham, so she can be with her daughter, as she does not have any other family members to share Christmas Day with.

Christmas Celebrations

Windsor family Christmas celebrations really get under way on Christmas Eve. Younger members help put the finishing touches to the tree, and then it is present time! As is german tradition (the royal’s come from a german line), presents are given on the 24th instead of the 25th. Gifts are laid out on huge trestle tables next to the recipient’s name. Gifts must be simple, inexpensive, and the funnier the better! In her first year as Duchess, Catherine made chutney from her grandmother’s recipe, and shower caps with funny slogans have been known to have been given and received with raucous laughter! I think this is a good tradition, as it takes the pressure off somewhat. The royals then change into formal evening wear for a black tie dinner. Events end at around midnight, when the Queen goes to bed; nobody can go to bed before the Queen.

The next day a big full English breakfast is had. Then everyone attends St Mary Magdalene Church on the estate for the Christmas Day service. The Queen attends church here every Sunday when she is in residence at Sandringham. Her Majesty is a committed Christian, and her faith, I believe, is the strength behind her extraordinary duty, ability, and dedication. The service reminds us all of the real reason for Christmas; the birth of Jesus, who came to show us how to live so we can flourish. He came to enable us to have a personal relationship with God, who deeply loves us. The Queen’s faith shines through in her Christmas Speech. Royal fans and wellwishers wait outside St Mary Magdalene to see the royals as they walk (or are driven, in the case of the Queen, who is usually accompanied by one of the members of her family), to church, and as they leave afterwards they chat to the public and take the gifts offered to them.

They all assemble for a traditional British Christmas lunch, consisting of Turkey from the Sandringham estate, potatoes, vegetables, stuffing and gravy, and Christmas Pudding. Afterwards, they settle down for the Queen’s Speech, as it is broadcast on TV. The Queen watches it in a separate room, so she may critique herself. Even after 65 years, the Queen still aims to improve, which I think is one reason she has done so well. Many Britons and Commonwealth Citizens pause their day to tune in. The speech is written personally by the Queen and includes a reflection on the past year in the life of the nation and commonwealth, events that have taken place (including royal ones) and the key work her family have done. The Queen usually has a theme, such as reconciliation, or peace, that she perceives to be key for that year, and links this to the biblical message of Christmas, expressing her own personal faith and how it helps her. It begins and ends with a recording of a Christmas carol performed by a band from the armed forces, and includes images and clips from the past year. The Queen’s grandfather King George V began the tradition in 1932, and for nearly every year since, a message has been given. Formally recorded on the radio as a live broadcast, the Queen then moved to television in 1957. Now, due to her age, it is no longer live, but pre-recorded at Buckingham Palace, usually in the White Drawing Room. The Queen is now an expert at the delivery and recording of her speeches!

The royals continue celebrations on the 26th December, Boxing Day, with a shoot. All ages and generations head out to the Norfolk countryside and shoot the pheasants on the Sandringham estate. As controversial as this is, it is a part of British aristocratic life, is a tradition, and the birds and well looked after before they are shot to be eaten.

There ends the traditional Sandringham Christmas. The Queen remains in residence for her winter break until 6th February, the date of her accession when her father died at Sandringham on 6th February 1952. During this time though the Queen will carry out local charity work, and everyday (except for Christmas Day itself) she will have her red boxes. They contain official communications and information from Parliament and her other realms and territories, that she has to deal with. So it is not a complete break, although at aged 92 she could be expected to take one! Other members of the royal family will head off to their own estates around the country for New Year, or visit the other side of the family.

Spreadin Christmas Cheer

Christmas is a much bigger time for the royals though. Many release official Christmas cards sent to wellwishers, staff and charities, featuring photos of themselves. This year the photos of the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, the Cambridge’s, and the Sussex’s Christmas cards have been released. The Queen and Prince Philip send out 750 cards to members of the royal household, friends, family, and British and Commonwealth Prime Ministers, Governor-Generals, and High Commissioners. Her Majesty also gives presents to her staff, handing some out personally at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. As started by George V, the Queen continues the tradition of handing out Christmas puddings to her staff. She also donates Christmas trees to Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Giles' Cathedral and the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh, and donates money to charities in Windsor. Churches and Schools in the Sandringham area also receive a tree.

In 2018, many of the royals have been busy spreading Christmas cheer. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge hosted a party for the families of serving men and women of the armed forces who will be away at Christmas, and personally flew to Cyprus to give Christmas cards and gifts to the serving men and women, from their families. The Duchess of Cornwall annually invites children from charities of which she is patron to help decorate the tree at Clarence House. The Duchess of Cambridge attended the Rugby Portobello Trust’s community Christmas party, and the Duchess of Sussex visited The Royal Variety Charity’s (of which the Queen is Patron) residential nursing and care home Brinsworth House, to join the residents and staff as they enjoyed a festive themed morning. The Countess of Wessex attended the annual NSPCC Childline Carol Concert, and the Duke of Rothesay (as Prince Charles is known in Scotland) surprised guests at Dumfries House (an historic house in Scotland that the Prince saved from dereliction, and is now a public visitor attraction that also offers a diverse educational programme focusing on employability skills) by turning up at a Christmas tea dance for older members of the community.

This is just a sample of some of the charitable Christmas work carried out by the royals this year.

From all of us at Royal Britannia,

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.