18 special ways the Royal Family celebrate Christmas

The Royal family traditionally go to Sandringham House in Norfolk for their Christmas festivities instead of Buckingham Palace. The country retreat has been owned by the royal family since 1862, and serves as the perfect winter escape with the house being set in 24 hectares of gardens – plenty of space for Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis to run around then!

The family members who are invited to spend the Christmas period with the sovereign at Sandringham are given a specific time to arrive on Christmas Eve. Each group will get a different time to turn up according to their status within the family. The most junior members will turn up first, and the most important - the likes of the Prince and Princes of Wales, for example - will arrive last.

It's been reported that the late Her Majesty used to enjoy doing her own Christmas shopping – and wanting only the best for her family, Harrods would apparently stay open after hours just for the Elizabeth II, so she could shop at her leisure.

This year marked the fifth time that Kate Middleton hosted her Together At Christmas festive service at Westminster Abbey – and her husband Prince William and their children (among other royals) all showed their support.

One year, the Princess even surprised and delighted crowds by joining Tom Walker on the piano too, as part of a joint performance of 'For Those Who Can't Be Here'.

According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, "The Royal Family has a large Christmas tree and a large silver artificial tree in the dining room, which is about 30 years old."

Except Meghan Markle that is, as she marked a departure from royal protocol in 2017 when she was invited to Sandringham for Christmas following the couple's engagement announcement the month before.

Convention states that only married couples are invited to Sandringham for Christmas, and it's usually stuck to; Kate Middleton wasn't allowed until she married Prince William in 2011, and neither was Zara Phillips' partner Mike Tindall before they got married.

It's thought that Prince Harry asked his grandmother to make an exception to the rule for Meghan, due to her family home being so far away. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams explained why he thinks the family were so happy to oblige despite their strict traditions: "Now they are engaged and she will shortly be a senior member of the royal family, it is pivotal that she feels an integral part of it as soon as possible," he said at the time.

After gathering at Sandringham House on Christmas Eve afternoon, the younger members of the royal family put the finishing touches on the trees. But if former royal chef Darren McGrady is to be believed, we like to imagine the Queen would sneak back down later to make sure the kids haven't made them look a mess. "The Queen is not lavish, so the décor is minimal," he told Good Housekeeping.

In keeping with the family's German heritage, gifts are given on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. And apparently they like to give jokey presents (Kate Middleton once gave Harry a 'grow your own girlfriend', apparently). Because what on Earth do you buy for the family who has it all?

All the Christmas gifts get put on trestle tables for each member of the family, and they open them following afternoon tea.

Although sadly the two brothers are somewhat estranged these days (and it'd be tricky with the Duke of Sussex living in California), previously the two Princes would take to the pitch along with locals and Sandringham staff for a game of Christmas Eve football – playing for opposing teams.

Usually, they'd wear the socks of their favourite teams (William supports Aston Villa and Harry supports Arsenal) but in 2015, they strayed from tradition to play on the same side: that of the local pub, The Black Horse Inn.

Seeing as the sovereign is literally the head of the Church of England, it's fitting that the royal family attend a Christmas morning service. Typically, the entire family would walk to St Mary Magdalene Church for a 45 minute service, whilst the Queen was driven. For his first Christmas as King, Charles and new Queen Camilla walked with the rest of the family.

Just like the rest of us! The only difference being, theirs is cooked by a professional chef and is served along with the likes of lobster.
"[After church] they have a big lunch that includes a salad with shrimp or lobster, and a roasted turkey, and all of your traditional side dishes like parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert," explained Darren McGrady. "They stick with the same meal year after year", he added.

PS: the Christmas Day menu is written in French - fancy!

Despite the fact the Queen's speech would be broadcast to the country at 3pm on 25 December every year, the monarch would actually pre-record it in the White Drawing Room or one of the other grand rooms at Buckingham Palace a few days before Christmas. This year, we'll see King Charles III give his fourth festive address to the nation.

Where about 15 to 20 different items are on offer. Dreamy. "It's always a buffet with the chefs at the table carving," said former royal chef Darren McGrady. "Right before the Christmas buffet, the senior chef on duty goes into the dining room and carves the rib roast or turkey or ham and once he's done, Her Majesty [would then] present the chef with a glass of whiskey and they toast."

Just like many families do on Christmas Day. And they'd often stay up late playing until midnight, thanks to the protocol that nobody retires to bed until the sovereign does (and it's said that Queen Elizabeth II enjoyed a festive late night). Who knows if King Charles grants his clan an earlier bedtime? Or perhaps it's now an even later one?