Every year, the royal family travels to Sandringham to celebrate Christmas. The tradition is one that was near and dear to the late Queen Elizabeth II’s heart, and it dates back to 1870.
King Charles Will Hand Out “Joke” Gifts to the Royals
The royals arrive at the King’s estate in Norfolk on December 24th to enjoy a delectable Christmas Eve dinner. Afterward, they gather at the trestle table for the gift exchange.
King Charles will hand out “joke” gifts in order of seniority. The giving of joke gifts has been a royal tradition since the 19th century.
The exchange of joke gifts is something that Prince William wants to end once he becomes King and hosts Christmas at Sandringham.
Some of the most peculiar gifts include a leather toilet seat, given to then Prince Charles by Princess Anne, and a pair of fake bosoms that Charles once gave Princess Diana.
Before Diana grew accustomed to the odd ritual, she gifted Princess Anne an expensive cashmere sweater, while Anne gave Diana a roll of toilet paper. Not exactly a fair exchange.
The Royal family’s strict gatherings are in stark contrast to Prince William and Kate Middleton’s usual low-key get togethers.
William and Kate typically prefer Anmer Hall with Kate’s side of the family. Dinner at Sandringham is black-tie and held to a specific schedule.
The seating plans work according to the order of rank. The rooms are also arranged according to royal status.
The Royals First Started Christmas at Sandringham When Edward VII Inherited the Estate
Lower-tier royal family members sleep in the servants’ quarters, which sounds quite drab and depressing.
It’s unsettling that the lower ranking royals sleeping arrangements depend on their place in the royal family tree and not the comfort of the monarchs’ guests.
The royals first started Christmas at Sandringham when Edward VII, then Prince of Wales, inherited the estate.
However, Queen Victoria preferred to hold Christmas celebrations at Windsor Castle. The royal family returned to their original plans for Sandringham Christmases in 1988.
The Norfolk residence has been the official meeting place for the royal family Christmas gathering ever since.
William takes issue with the gag gifts and the fact that they are distributed in hierarchical order. The Prince of Wales disapproves of the tradition and calls it “antiquated.”
William promised that there would be some changes within the structure and rules of the monarchy once he becomes King.
We can expect that one of the first royal rituals that will be changed when William takes the throne is the practice of the royal family’s way of gift giving.
William Wants to Change Outdated Traditions and Have a More Relaxed Modern Monarchy
Until then, the King plans to maintain the tradition. On Christmas Day, the royal family walks together to St. Mary Magdelene Church for the 11 am service before their “walkabout” where they meet and greet royal fans.
After their lavish Christmas dinner, the royals join the rest of Britain to watch the King’s Christmas speech. This year will look different, however, as certain royals are banned from coming to Christmas.
The former Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, aren’t invited and are officially banned from this and future Christmases at Sandringham.
The Jeffrey Epstein scandal cast a dark cloud over the royal family as Andrew and Sarah committed some unspeakable sins due to their relationship with the convicted sex offender.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children, Archie and Lilibet, will celebrate Christmas in Montecito California.
Regarding William’s shift into a more modern monarchy, which will include changes to the way the royals celebrate Christmas, William intends to run a much more relaxed and less stringent royal system.
A source close to the royal family said,
“William’s reign will be a general vibe shift and little customs like the gift giving ceremony will be undoubtedly swallowed up by that broader change.”
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