Prince William has shared a rare glimpse into the royal family’s upcoming Christmas celebrations, revealing a gathering as grand as it is noisy.
PRINCE WILLIAM IN SANDRINGHAM
The Prince spoke with soldiers and their families in England earlier this week. He confirmed, “We’ll be in Norfolk, at Sandringham. We’ll be 45 for Christmas. It won’t be quiet, it will be noisy.”
Sandringham, the private estate of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, has hosted royal Christmas festivities since 1988, according to Mint.
Known for its rich traditions, the estate is the centre of the family’s holiday celebrations, and this year will be no different.
PRINCE WILLIAM’S FAMILY
William’s wife, Kate Middleton, along with their three children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 — will be among the many attendees.
Noticeably missing from the royal Christmas guest list are Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their two children, according to the Royal Observer.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex last joined the royal family for Christmas in 2018, before their decision to step back from royal duties.
GUEST LIST UNDER WRAPS
Reports suggest they were not invited to the festivities this year. This further highlighted the lingering tensions between Harry and the rest of the family.
The guest list remains undisclosed, but speculation about who else will attend is rife.
William did not clarify whether the 45 guests would gather at once or over several events throughout the festive period, according to People.
Either way, the logistics for such a large group promise to be challenging.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND THE CHRISTMAS SEASON
William admitted he is “in no way” prepared for the Christmas season. However, he did reveal one of his favourite holiday pastimes.
According to Leah St Clair-Lewis, who works with British troops’ welfare services, the prince enjoys taking long walks with his dogs at Sandringham.
“It’s a tradition for him,” she said, emphasising the role that simple pleasures play during the busy holiday season.
EXCHANGING GIFTS
On Christmas Eve, the royal family is expected to exchange gifts, following their custom of giving humorous, low-cost presents.
“The presents they give each other are normally quite silly,” shared Nick Bullen, co-founder of True Royalty TV.
“If you’ve got access to the finest jewellery and clothes, joke gifts keep it fun.”
Christmas morning will see the youngest royals opening their presents before the family heads to a church service at St Mary Magdalene.
PRINCE WILLIAM AND CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS
The historic church, dating back to the 16th century, has been central to royal Christmas traditions for decades.
Christmas Day at Sandringham includes a lavish feast.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady once detailed their festive menu. The menu traditionally features turkey, various stuffing options, roasted vegetables, and Brussels sprouts.
Dessert usually includes a classic Christmas pudding.
Afternoon tea offers a spread of mince pies, sandwiches, and scones.
The dinner buffet often surpasses the earlier meal in grandeur, with items like decorated York ham taking centre stage.
This year’s celebrations at Sandringham may be larger than usual. It reflects the royal family’s commitment to their time-honoured traditions.
WHAT ARE YOUR FAVOURITE FAMILY TRADITIONS DURING THE FESTIVE SEASON?
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