The Royals at Christmas

The Royals at Christmas! Has a certain magic, doesn’t it? It’s that lovely mix of long-held tradition, quiet elegance, and a surprisingly homely family rhythm. And while most of us won’t be joining them at Sandringham any time soon, we can certainly enjoy peeking behind the scenes.

Here’s how the Royal Family spend their Christmas – and how their traditions and style are woven together in a way that fits perfectly with the idea of “Styling Yourself Confident,” inside and out.

The Royals walking to church on Christmas morning

Where the royals spend Christmas

Every year, the Royal Family gathers at Sandringham House, the monarch’s country estate in Norfolk, England. It’s been their Christmas base since the late 1980s, when they shifted from Windsor Castle to this more rural retreat.

It’s also a place rich in Christmas history. Queen Elizabeth II gave her first televised Christmas message from Sandringham in 1957, so when the family gather there, they’re not just “going home for Christmas” – they’re stepping into a tradition stretching back generations.

The late Queen Elizabeth II and King Charles III delivering the Christmas message

Christmas Eve: Trees, Traditions, and Gifts

If you love Christmas trees, you’d feel right at home with the royals.

The tradition of decorating a Christmas tree began in 1800 with Queen Charlotte, consort of King George III. Later, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert really popularised the custom, and from there the Christmas tree spread around the world as we know it today.

At Sandringham, Christmas Eve is when the celebrations truly begin. The family put the finishing touches to the huge Christmas tree with the younger royals, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis carefully adding their contributions.

Gift-giving for the Royals also happens on Christmas Eve, following an old German tradition. But if you’re imagining glittering diamonds, think again. Royal gifts are famously simple and often very funny – more silly and sentimental than lavish. Picture a long table laid with a white cloth, each place marked with a name card, and everyone talking, laughing, and opening their presents all at once. It’s wonderfully human and not so different from any noisy, happy family gathering.

In the evening, they dress up for a formal black-tie dinner. The men wear tuxedos while the women go all out in floor-length gowns and jewels. It’s a reminder that tradition and style are very much intertwined in royal life – not just about what they wear, but about the tone, respect, and sense of occasion.

Christmas tree in recent years at Windsor and Queen Victoria's tree

Christmas Day: Church, Lunch and the King’s Speech

The Royals at Christmas: Morning begins with the walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church, a 16th-century parish church on the Sandringham Estate. For decades, this short stroll has been one of the most photographed royal traditions of the year. The family greet well-wishers and chat with locals before slipping inside. It’s public, but it’s also deeply personal – faith, family, and duty all wrapped together.

Back at the house, lunch is served promptly at 1 p.m. The menu is classic and comforting. The day can start with anything from a full English breakfast to a lighter tray in-room, but Christmas lunch is very traditional; roast turkey with sage and onion stuffing, brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, parsnips and carrots, roast and mashed potatoes, rich gravy, and then Christmas pudding with brandy sauce to finish!

The children eat separately having their own festive meal. It’s a very old-fashioned approach, but it keeps things calmer and allows the adults to linger over their courses. Many of us will do similar - my children and grandchildren were always allowed to leave the table between courses - it is Christmas after all! 

At 3 p.m., everything pauses for the King’s Christmas speech. This is another thread of continuity with the past – a moment to reflect, listen, and feel connected to something larger than just the festivities in the room.

The rest of the day is deliberately relaxed: games, television, and, weather permitting, a good dog walk. Again, it’s not all that different from many other families, just with a bit more protocol and a few more tiaras in the wardrobe upstairs!

Dining table at Windsor in earlier years, and Christmas turkey

Boxing Day: Fresh Air and Family Time

On Boxing Day – the day after Christmas – the focus shifts outdoors.

Traditionally, the adults often take part in pheasant shooting, while the children are encouraged to ride horses, go for walks, and generally burn off some of that holiday energy. It’s a day of wellies and warm coats, rather than ballgowns and black tie.

Noisy, jolly, and full of bustle, the Sandringham Christmas usually gathers a large part of the family. In 2025, King Charles III and Queen Camilla are expected to host Prince William, Princess Catherine, and their three children, amongst others. Think of it as a big family house party – just with a king and queen at the head of the table!

Boxing Day at Sandringham, outside pursuits

Modern Touches and Timeless Style

While the core traditions remain, modern elements have been added like Princess Catherine’s Christmas Carol concert; created to bring communities together and shine a light on charitable causes. It brings the same values of service and connection that have always been at the heart of the Royal Family at Christmas.

And that’s where tradition and style meet so well. The way they celebrate – from what they wear to how they gather, give, and give back – shows that true style isn’t just about clothes. It’s about the rituals you choose to keep, the atmosphere you create, and how you express who you are year after year.

Perhaps there’s a royal-inspired idea you’d like to borrow for your own festivities: a walk to church, a simple but thoughtful gift tradition, a more “dressed up” Christmas Eve, or just a renewed appreciation for your own family rituals. After all, that’s real style – living your traditions with confidence and joy.

Prince and Princess of Wales and children at the Carol Concert 2024