EVERY year the royal family flocks to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham and they certainly pull out all the stops.
From a glittering black tie dinner to slightly less highbrow games like beer pong, the ‘other half’ definitely know how to throw an extravagant bash.
While the monarchy has undergone a huge change in recent years with the passing of Queen Elizabeth and the coronation of King Charles, their Christmas plans remain unchanged for 2023.
Here, Fabulous goes behind-the-scenes of a royal festive celebration to see how the elite let their hair down at the sprawling Norfolk estate…
Family footie match
While you may imagine a royal Christmas to be a formal affair, they do like to get stuck into a messy game of football.
Royal expert Jennie Bond revealed to OK!: "Sometimes there is a Christmas Eve football match with some of the staff.”
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There is plenty of room for a kick-about in the 20,000-acre estate, and footie mad Prince William, who supports Aston Villa and is President of the Football Association, is likely to get involved with his kids.
Kate loving Beer Pong
No festive period is complete without some competitive games, even when you are in the royal family.
Jennie added: "The family are keen on games of all sorts, cards and charades are popular.
“And now we know that Kate Middleton enjoys the drinking game, Beer Pong, thanks to Mike Tindall’s podcast, so perhaps some of the family might start a new Christmas tradition at Sandringham.”
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11Royal expert Phil Dampier told Fabulous that the Queen was particularly talented at Charades, and liked to play over the holidays.
He added: “The late Queen was brilliant at impersonations of world leaders like Boris Yeltsin and US Presidents, and the King, who once showed his comic timing on stage at Cambridge University, will surely follow suit.
“William and Kate enter totally into the spirit of the occasion and the Princess is known as a great mimic.”
Camilla as ‘yuletide planner-in-chief’
While many people may wonder what happens behind closed doors at Sandringham, a new documentary gave royal fans a sneak peek.
Historian Professor Kate Williams, who featured in Channel 5’s Sandringham: The King At Christmas, revealed how the Queen would get stuck into being a host extraordinaire.
However, the mantle has now been passed onto Queen Camilla.
Professor Williams said: “At Christmas Elizabeth was monarch and consort in one, she effectively did both jobs which meant she oversaw all the planning – and she loved it.
“Now, Charles is the King and Camilla is the hostess, so I suspect Camilla will be yuletide planner-in-chief.”
Joke gifts on Christmas Eve
While you may expect the royals to gift each other lavish presents, they tend to keep things low-key.
Professor Williams said: “They don't do big presents – in fact the rule is, the jokier the better.
“One year William and Kate bought Harry a grow-your-own-girlfriend kit, the Duke of Edinburgh got a light-up pepper mill and the Queen was given an apron.
“Princess Diana was famously caught out by this when she first joined the family – no one had told her not to splash out and she bought Princess Anne a beautiful cashmere sweater.”
Gifts are opened on Christmas Eve, which is a tradition inherited from the German side of the family.
Phil added: “All the presents are carefully placed on cloth-covered trestle tables, with a name card marking each family member’s pile of gifts.
“Then, just as the monarch has done since Queen Victoria first started the German tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve, the King will give the signal for everyone to dive in.
“The children get serious presents, sometimes even horses or guns, but the adults share joke gifts worth very little.”
Five formal outfit changes
You may spend your Christmas Day in your pyjamas, but the royals have an extensive wardrobe to pack for.
According to fashion designer Jacques Azagury, who once designed for Diana, the family undergo at least five formal outfit changes over the period.
He revealed: “Christmas Eve is when everything comes out, the tiaras, the long dresses, it's a full-on black tie evening, they pull out all the stops.”
Black tie Christmas Eve soiree
Before the evening on Christmas Eve, the royals are said to “retire for a bath and the first of many clothes changes to be ready for dinner at 8pm”, according to Phil.
After some welcome drinks, a candlelit dinner follows, which can last until the early hours.
The royal expert shared: “The Christmas Eve banquet is a grand occasion with the men dressed in black tie and the ladies in gowns.
“A typical dinner will be Norfolk shrimps, lamb or game shot on the estate and a pudding of soufflé or tarte tatin.
“White wine is served with the starter, claret with the main course, and champagne with the pudding.
“The family all toast each other as they clink their champagne glasses.
“But ironically few of them actually like the stuff, and most get finished off by the servants as they clear the table afterwards.”
Turkey carved in front of royals
Before they head to church, the royals tuck into a Christmas morning buffet breakfast.
Professor Williams said this is an informal occasion, and typically consists of “sausages, kedgeree, kippers” and “everyone helps themselves.”
After they visit the St Mary Magdalene church, the royals return to Sandringham for drinks at 12.45pm, with the main Christmas dinner being served at 1.15pm.
Phil shared: “The brisk walk in the cold air back to the house is rewarded with a cocktail or some mulled wine in the grand cream and gold drawing room before lunch.”
One of the highlights of the feast is the arrival of two turkeys in the dining room.
Darren McGrady, who spent 11 years as the Queen's personal chef, revealed: “Christmas dinner is the only time the bird goes into the dining room whole and is carved in front of the family.”
After this main course, the only dessert on offer is a classic Christmas pudding, and it goes down well with the family.
Darren continued: “You light the brandy just as you walk into the dining room and everyone cheers.”
Everyone watches King Charles on TV
Just like millions of households around the country, the royals tune into King Charles’ speech on Christmas Day.
Phil added: “There is no hanging about, and the entire meal will be scoffed down in 90 minutes so that everyone can watch His Majesty’s Christmas message to the nation on TV at 3pm.”
Guestlist shake-up this year
Prince William’s “secret” step-sister and step-brother are reportedly being invited by King Charles to celebrate the festive period for the first time.
Queen Camilla’s children from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles are said to be among the invitees – along with their kids.
Camilla has two children, Laura Lopes, 45, and Tom Parker Bowles, 48, who became step-siblings of Prince William, 41, and Prince Harry, 39, when she married Charles in 2005.
ITV’s Royal Editor Chris Ship claims there will be “major alterations” to the traditional Sandringham celebrations this year.
He quoted a source saying: "The Queen has invited her children and grandchildren this year which is different from previous years.”
Speaking of the larger guestlist, Jennie revealed: "The lunch will now be served in the ballroom at Sandringham as the dining room would be a bit of a squeeze.”
It has been claimed the Sussexes have not received a Christmas invite from The King this year, The Sunday Times reports.
William and Kate at Anmer Hall
Kate and William are expected at Sandringham, along with around a large gathering of royal family members.
However, they won’t physically stay at the estate and will travel there for the celebrations.
Phil added: “They will stay at their own home, Anmer Hall, but make the short journey across for church and lunch with around 40 members of the King and Queen’s families.
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“It’s possible that William and Kate will spend Christmas Day with her family the Middletons in the Berkshire village of Bucklebury.
“In fact, in the unlikely event of Harry and Meghan coming over, I’m sure that’s what they would do.”
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