The British Royal Family has many long-standing traditions when it comes to celebrating Christmas. Every year, the royals gather at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for the holidays, filling their days with lavish meals, outdoor activities, and family time. One of the most notable traditions is attending church service on Christmas morning as reported by Daily express.
However, there is reportedly one popular Christmas custom that is banned for the royals during their Sandringham retreat – watching television. According to royal expert Jennie Bond, King Charles III is not fond of spending the holiday parked in front of the TV.
“Christmas is a time of togetherness and for Charles, I imagine he would see this as a rare and wonderful day when the family can all be together,” Bond told The Sun. “There is a lot in place for the day, including church and formal meals.”
Rather than tuning into Christmas specials and movies, the royal family opts to spend their time soaking up the fresh air and scenic countryside surroundings. Bond explained that Charles prefers for his family to fully immerse themselves in the Christmas festivities. Watching television may even be seen by the King as rude when there are outdoor activities to enjoy and quality family time to be had.
The one exception is when the royals gather to watch the monarch’s annual Christmas broadcast on December 25th. The pre-recorded speech airs on TV, radio, and the royal family’s social media at 3 pm GMT. The broadcast provides the King’s perspective on the year’s events and often includes themes of hope, unity, and compassion.
According to BBC News, the tradition of the royal Christmas message was started in 1932 by Charles’ grandfather, King George V. Every year since, the reigning monarch has shared a holiday address – with a brief pause during World War II. Charles gave his first speech as King this past Christmas, following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.
While watching television may be banned, the royals have plenty of other Christmas customs to keep them merry. Gifts are exchanged on Christmas Eve instead of the morning of the 25th. Family members also participate in various outdoor activities like horseback riding, shooting, and walking the estate grounds. Perhaps the most widely known tradition is the royals venturing out on December 26th for a pheasant shoot on the Sandringham grounds.
The lavish Christmas feast is another highlight at Sandringham. Held in the estate’s ornate dining room, the meal features a roasted turkey, ham, Brussels sprouts, parsnips, carrots, gravy, and Christmas pudding for dessert. According to The Telegraph, the royal head chef starts prepping the turkey in early December to allow ample time for aging. Talk about advance holiday planning!
As the senior members of the royal family gather this year for Christmas, they will carry on their unique traditions – without binge-watching Netflix or tuning into holiday movie marathons. For King Charles, the point of the Sandringham retreat is cherishing rare and precious time together. And that means soaking up the spirit of the season through meals, outdoor adventures, and family bonding.
