The Royal Family traditionally spends Christmas and New Year at Sandringham House. The Queen's country estate in Norfolk. During the sixties, when Her Majesty's children were small, many Christmases were celebrated at Windsor Castle, where The Royal Family spends Easter.
Will the royal family still go to Sandringham at Christmas?
Yes, the British Royal Family traditionally spends Christmas at their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, including Christmas 2025, where they attend church and enjoy festive activities, though Prince Andrew was notably absent from the 2025 gathering. King Charles hosts, continuing the tradition set by Queen Elizabeth II, with the public gathering to see them on Christmas Day, as they walk from Sandringham House to St. Mary Magdalene Church.
While the Palace grounds are not publicly accessible for holiday celebrations, the royal family continues a number of festive traditions behind its gates. Following a long-standing custom, the Monarch personally gives Christmas presents to members of the Royal Household at both Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle.
What does the British royal family do on Christmas Day?
Since 1988, their celebrations have been held at the monarch's country estate in Norfolk, per the royal family's official website. The presents are laid out on trestle tables, with an exchange occurring at teatime. Then on Christmas Day, the family takes their walk to attend morning services at St.
Female members of the royal family should never reveal their cleavage. Princess Diana wore dresses with exposed cleavage on occasion, but she cleverly concealed it with a clutch. Skirts and dresses should be knee-length or three to four inches above the knee. This is approximately 7 to 10 centimeters above the knee.
Kate and Prince William eat breakfast separately on Christmas Day due to a long-standing royal tradition where the men have a hearty breakfast downstairs while the women eat lighter meals in their rooms to allow more time for hair and makeup before the heavily photographed church service, a custom revealed by former royal chef Darren McGrady, though they dine together for other meals.
The British Royal Family avoids the word "toilet," preferring "loo" or "lavatory," often due to the word's French origins, with "lavatory" being more formal and "loo" common in general conversation, while older terms like "close stool" were used historically for portable commodes. They also use other refined terms like "scent" for perfume and "helping" for food portions, avoiding more common, "working-class" words.
Where are Prince Harry and Meghan spending Christmas?
From my family to yours - Happy Holidays!” The Sussexes last spent Christmas in the UK in 2019; since, they have celebrated in Canada and the U.S. They recently shared a holiday card that featured highlights from their year, and Meghan also posted a sweet snap of their family of four on her Instagram.
Salaries for jobs at Buckingham Palace and the wider Royal Household vary significantly by role, from around £19,000 for entry-level positions like Summer Wardens or £20k for a Groom (with accommodation) to £40,000+ for coordination roles, and even £55,000-£60,000 for senior project managers, with lower-paid roles often including housing/meals in exchange for salary adjustments. Salaries aim for the London Living Wage, but some roles have faced criticism for being low relative to UK median earnings, although perks like accommodation or meals can offset costs.
Reportedly, royals must get on the scale before and after they feast. In the 2021 film Spencer, Princess Diana is depicted as having to weigh herself before and after Christmas dinner as part of a royal tradition. Royal experts have confirmed the existence of this practice, which dates back to the reign of Edward VII.
Kate Middleton and Prince William Join King Charles, Queen Camilla, and Other Royals for Christmas at Sandringham. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis walked alongside their parents on the annual stroll to services.
The King and Queen meet thousands of people each year in the UK and overseas. Before meeting Their Majesties, many people ask how they should behave. The simple answer is that there are no obligatory codes of behaviour - just courtesy. However, many people wish to observe the traditional forms of greeting.
What did Meghan Markle and Prince Harry do for Christmas?
She told readers the festivities would include “pajamas all day, some Scrabble or Sequence (or Candyland for the kids), music playing, candles flickering, dogs snoring, endless grazing; the laughter, the sidebars, the deep breaths (you know the ones), the fun, and the memories.”
Meghan Markle revealed she was diagnosed with postpartum pre-eclampsia, a rare and serious condition involving high blood pressure after childbirth, calling it a "huge medical scare" she managed privately. She shared this on her "Confessions of a Female Founder" podcast, noting it occurred after giving birth to one of her children and highlighted the challenges of facing a life-threatening condition while managing new motherhood publicly.
Yes, King Charles has met his granddaughter Lilibet, but only once in person, during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee in June 2022, an "emotional" first meeting described by royal sources; however, there have been no further in-person visits since then, with updates relying on photos and video calls.
For the Royal Family, Christmas is synonymous with Sandringham. With the Prince and Princess of Wales staying at their country home, Anmer Hall, nearby, and other members of the Royal Family bunking up in the monarch's expansive 29-bedroom country house, it is a huge festive family gathering.
The royals wouldn't kick back on the sofa in a 'lounge' or even a 'living room. ' Instead, they'd retire to a 'sitting room' or a 'drawing room. ' Sofa, as it happens, is the appropriately term for a 'settee' or 'couch. '
Fancy words for toilet include lavatory, water closet (WC), convenience, restroom, and powder room, while more formal or archaic terms are privy, latrine, or commode, with regional favorites like loo (UK) or comfort room (Philippines).
Some say the dueling duchesses disliked one another from day one. Others say the war began when the combatants clashed over preparations for Meghan's wedding. Whatever the case, a new poll indicates that when it comes to popularity in the UK, Meghan is no contest for Kate.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, announced in March 2024 that she was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery in January of that year; tests revealed the presence of cancer, leading her to begin preventative chemotherapy, which she completed in the summer of 2024, and she has since been focusing on recovery and gradually returning to public duties, though the specific type and stage of cancer remain private.
