How the Royal Family celebrate Christmas – 10 traditions you probably didn’t know about

The Royal Family have their own set of Christmas traditions, just like the rest of us. Some of the royal festive customs date back to the Victorian era, with others being more formal, while several are more relaxed.

Things may change a little bit this year but the core concept of them will stay the same. From black-tie dinners to pre-Christmas lunches, the Royal Family’s activities are filled with cheer.

King Charles will be leading the festivities from Sandringham this year, and an extended guest list has been invited to join him.

This includes Queen Camilla’s nearest and dearest, in what is expected to mark a new tradition for the Royal Family.

Here, Express.co.uk takes a look at some of the royal family Christmas traditions they have celebrated over the years.

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1. Christmas Day service

On Christmas day, members of the Royal Family visit the church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham for the annual service at around 11am in the morning.

The church dates back to the sixteenth century and was originally visited by Queen Victoria.

Senior and non-working royals usually attend the service often joined by their children. Before that, the children get their Christmas presents from Santa, according to King Charles’s former butler, Grant Harrold.

After a delicious Christmas Day lunch, the Royal Family just like any other family in the country sit and watch the monarch’s televised Christmas Speech. This year it will be King Charles’s second Christmas Speech as monarch.

2. The monarch’s Christmas luncheon

In the week before Christmas, typically the monarch will host the annual luncheon for the family at Buckingham Palace. Last year, King Charles hosted the largest family reunion since the late Queen’s death in September 2022.

3. Royals host several Christmas parties

The Royal Family sure know how to shine through the festive season. Since royals are patrons of different charities they throw Christmas parties to support the causes closest to their hearts.

4. Multiple royal Christmas trees

Popularised by Queen Victoria, another tradition sees three fir trees brought to the Marble Hall in Buckingham Palace each year. In the past, the grandchildren and great-grandchildren would help to decorate one of the trees, as the Queen confirmed in her 2015 Christmas Speech.

5. The royals gift Christmas trees across the country

The late Queen would donate money to local charities in Windsor every Christmas. On top of that, according to the Royal Family’s website, she would also donate Christmas trees to Westminster Abbey, St. Paul’s Cathedral, St. Giles’s Cathedral and the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh and churches and schools in the Sandringham area.

6. The annual Christmas cards

The royals send out hundreds of Christmas cards to well-wishers around the world, with family photos. According to the Firm’s official website, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh would send around 750 Christmas cards, which featured a family photo, every year.

7. Christmas Eve’s black-tie dinner

The royals would reportedly gather at Sandringham Estate each year and attend a black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve, which would showcase all the best quality roasted meats and trimmings. The late Queen was reportedly keen on her favourite cocktail, the “Zaza”.

8. Presents exchanged on Christmas Eve

Following Prince Albert’s tradition, royals exchange their gifts on Christmas Eve after the afternoon tea But whilst some would think the royals like to give expensive presents, they are actually a bit more “jokey”, according to Harrold.

9. The royal game of charades after Christmas lunch

The Royal Family reportedly play a game of charades on Christmas Day. The big event takes place right after Christmas lunch. Other activities include jigsaw puzzles or a movie projected onto a screen in the ballroom, according to Good Housekeeping.

10. Royal staff would get gifted 1,500 Christmas puddings

The late Queen would give each of the 1,500 members of staff a Christmas pudding, according to the royal website. She would usually accompany them with a greeting card. Elizabeth would reportedly buy the puddings through the Privy Purse (her private income).