Related Articles
This Christmas, youngsters Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are set for a delightful celebration in Norfolk with their family. Like many children throughout the UK, the Royal siblings share the usual Christmas excitement, but they also follow some unique Royal traditions due to their heritage.
While striving to provide a normal life for their children, Prince William and Princess Kate maintain certain customs when celebrating Christmas at Sandringham. Among these is the practice of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve, incorporating their German ancestry into the festivities.
Former Royal chef Darren McGrady shared insights on this tradition: “The royals are of German descent so they weave in German traditions to their celebrations. After afternoon tea, they open gifts on Christmas Eve, as is the German tradition.”
Zara Tindall, King Charles’s niece and Prince William’s cousin, who often spends Christmas at Sandringham, also confirmed this custom.
The Royal Family traditionally follows a set of Christmas protocols, with one such practice regarding seating arrangements at the festive dinner table – this may no longer be applicable for the now older children. According to former Royal chef Darren McGrady, youngsters in the family used to dine separately in the nursery until they were mature enough to join the adults, reports the Express.
He shared: “The children always ate in the nursery until they were old enough to conduct themselves properly at the dining table.”
(Image: (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage))
McGrady went on to describe the discipline at Royal dinners: “So for the (late) Queen, there was never a case of putting a high chair at the table with a little baby squealing and throwing food. It was Victorian.”
He further explained: “The children’s place was in the nursery and Nanny would take care of them. It’s your modern-day Downton Abbey.”
While details about the Royal Family’s private Christmas Day celebrations generally remain under wraps, Prince William has provided a glimpse into this year’s anticipated festivities. During a visit with service members and their families in Wiltshire on 10 December, the prince indicated that around 45 relatives are expected to congregate.
He revealed that although everyone ends up “all in one room”, they “normally spread out” throughout the space.
Prince Harry is reportedly not planning to join the Sandringham gathering for Christmas and will instead celebrate the holiday in Montecito.
