King Charles and Queen Camilla are planning to host a large gathering of family and friends at Sandringham for their first Christmas as the reigning monarchs. However, their festive plans have reportedly caused some discontent among the staff who work at the royal estate, as they have been asked to vacate their rooms to make way for the new guests.
According to The Express, the king and queen have invited more than 30 people to join them for the traditional Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, which include attending church service, exchanging gifts and enjoying a turkey lunch. The guest list is said to include their children and grandchildren, as well as some close friends and relatives of the late Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September at the age of 96.
However, the expanded guest list means that there is not enough accommodation at the main house for everyone, and some of the staff who live on the estate have been told to move out of their rooms and stay elsewhere. The Sun quoted a source as saying: “The staff are disgruntled as they have been booted out of their rooms. They have been told to find alternative accommodation and they are not happy about it.”
The source added: “It’s a bit rich as they have worked tirelessly throughout the pandemic and now they are being turfed out of their rooms for Charles’ mates. It’s not like they are being put up in a hotel, they have to sort it out themselves.”
The source also claimed that some of the staff are considering quitting their jobs over the issue, as they feel unappreciated and disrespected by the new king and queen. The source said: “Some of them are thinking of handing in their notice as they have had enough. They feel like they are being treated like second-class citizens by Charles and Camilla.”
A spokesperson for the king and queen declined to comment on the report, but said that they are looking forward to spending Christmas with their family and friends at Sandringham. The spokesperson said: “The king and queen are delighted to be celebrating their first Christmas as the sovereigns at Sandringham, which holds a special place in their hearts. They are looking forward to welcoming their loved ones and sharing this joyous occasion with them.”
Sandringham has been the private home of the British monarchs since 1862, when it was bought by Queen Victoria for her son, the future King Edward VII. It has been the venue for the royal family’s Christmas celebrations since 1988, when Queen Elizabeth II decided to move them from Windsor Castle. The estate covers about 20,000 acres and includes a 60-room house, a church, a museum, a stud farm and several cottages
