Royal family Christmas traditions: how the King and Queen and other royals will celebrate this year
Many families share quirky Christmas traditions that can leave new in-laws scratching their heads — but the royal family’s customs could take the crown for being the most eccentric of all.
Despite significant changes in recent years — including the deaths of Queen and Prince Philip, and Prince Harry and Meghan’s relocation to California — the royal family remain steadfast in upholding their cherished traditions.
Another family member set to miss this year’s celebrations is Prince Andrew, who has confirmed he won’t travel to Sandringham amid his latest scandal.
So what will Christmas Day look like for King Charles III and Queen Camilla this year?
From joke gifts and weigh-ins to black-tie dinners, here's what the family get up to.
Who gets invited to Christmas at Sandringham?
The full Sandringham line-up used to include Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Philip and their four children — Prince Charles as he then was, Prince Andrew, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. Then there were the Queen's grandchildren and great-grandchildren, including Prince William — and Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
Last year, King Charles and Queen Camilla invited Andrew, Anne and Edward — and William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their three children.
Extended family, including Andrew, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, their husbands and mother, Sarah Ferguson, were also at Sandringham in 2023 and joined the family at church on Christmas Day morning.
However, Andrew will be absent this year — and it’s unclear how his change of plans will impact his close relatives.
It looks like another diversion from tradition is on the cards too, with reports suggesting Camilla has invited her children and grandchildren.
Meghan and Harry will probably be absent this year.
What do the royal family do on Christmas Day?
Darren McGrady, a former chef to the Queen, previously revealed to the Mail on Sunday that Christmas Day starts with a hearty fry-up breakfast for the male members of the family downstairs. Meanwhile, most of the married women traditionally opt for something lighter, which is brought to their rooms
The family then walks to St Mary Magdalene church at 11am for the Christmas morning service.
After church, the family sits down to Christmas lunch. Mr McGrady claimed the menu features "salad with shrimp or lobster [followed by] roasted turkey, and all of your traditional side dishes like parsnips, carrots, brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert”.
Television isn't part of the royal family's Christmas Day, except for watching the King's speech — previously the Queen's
On Boxing Day, there's a pheasant shoot. It had previously been reported that the animal-loving Duchess of Sussex had asked Prince Harry to withdraw from this tradition. However, the Telegraph more recently quoted a "well-placed" Kensington Palace source who told the paper this was "completely untrue”.
What do the royal family do about Christmas gifts?
On Christmas Eve, the family lay out their gifts on a trestle table in the dining room. The present-giving was reportedly traditionally presided over by the late Prince Philip.
Cheap and joke gifts are encouraged. Rumoured previous presents include a singing hamster given by Meghan to the Queen, which she reportedly adored; a white leather loo seat given to King Charles by Princess Anne; and a grow-your-own girlfriend kit given by Catherine to Prince Harry.
Our favourite gift story of all is that Prince Harry reportedly once gave the late Queen a shower cap that had "ain't life a bitch" emblazoned on it.
Reportedly, Princess Diana didn't initially get the brief about the cheap gift rule and gave the family cashmere sweaters on Christmas Eve in 1981. However, the following year, she gave Sarah Ferguson — Prince Andrew's then-wife — a leopard-print bath mat.
What's the strangest royal family tradition of all?
Majesty editor Ingrid Seward told Grazia that royal family members are traditionally weighed before and after their Christmas dinner.
She says the weigh-in began with King Edward VII, who wanted to guests his guests ate well. Today, the tradition is reportedly continued on a pair of antique scales.
Take a property tour: the Royal family's homes and palaces
Who does it belong to? Royal Collection Trust
Who lives there? The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh
The working headquarters of the monarchy. The Queen and Prince Philip live in private apartments on the north side of the Palace, while rooms on the upper floors of the north and east sides are occupied by other members of the royal family. (Getty)
Who does it belong to? Royal Collection Trust
Who lives there: The Queen
The official residence of Her Majesty, Windsor Castle is the oldest and largest inhabited castle in the world. It has been the family home of British kings and queens for almost 1,000 years. (AFP)
The Royal Lodge at Windsor Castle was surrounded by flood water after the Thames burst its banks on February 10, 2014 (Getty)
Who does it belong to? The Queen, on behalf of the nation
Who lives there: Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke and Duchess of Kent, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent
William and Kate have lived in Kensington Palace since 2013. Dating back to the Jacobean times, the Palace has a long history as a residence for members of the royal family. (Getty)
Who lives there? The Palace contains the London residences of the Prince of Wales, the Princess Royal and Princess Alexandra.
In the royal family for over 300 years, St James's Palace has been the setting of some of the most important events in royal history. The Accession Council meets in St James's Palace after the death of a monarch and, later, the accession of the new sovereign is proclaimed by Garter King of Arms from the Proclamation Gallery overlooking Friary Court. Prince George was christened there in 2013. (AFP)
What’s the dress code for the royal family at Christmas?
On Christmas Eve, there's a black-tie dress code for dinner, while the ladies wear hats for church on Christmas Day.
For the Boxing Day shoot, it's a country-casual vibe — think Barbour jackets and plus fours.
How many Christmas trees are involved?
For British royalty, Christmas trees truly are a family tradition.
Queen Charlotte, the German wife of King George III, is believed to have set up the first Christmas tree at Queen's Lodge in Windsor in 1800. However, they became widely popular in Queen Victoria’s reign, after her German husband Prince Albert popularised them in 1848.
There are several lavish Christmas trees at Buckingham Palace (grown on the royal estate in Windsor) and a 20-foot tree at Windsor Castle. But at Sandringham, things are a little more laid back — Queen Elizabeth II was said to have liked having a single tree put up which the children were encouraged to decorate on Christmas Eve.
