We are wrapping up our Royal Christmas series for Blogmas this week, as well! We started off looking at Royal Christmas in Denmark and Queen Margrethe’s celebrations. Then we made our way to warmer weather to take a peak at the Spanish royals’ holiday celebrations. And then back North to spend some festive moments with the Belgian royal family. Today we are moving to what is arguably the most popular royal family in the world, the British Royal Family. People have long been fascinated with the Royal Family’s Christmas celebrations, for centuries now. Let’s dive into Royal Christmas in Great Britain!
The Extended Royal Family Christmas Lunch
In the week leading up to Christmas, the monarch hosts the extended Royal Family for a Christmas lunch. There are several different branches of the family, and the Kents and Gloucesters each have their own holiday celebrations. So, before everyone heads off, fifty or more members of the extended royal family enjoy lunch together.
This past week, King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted their first Christmas lunch since he became monarch. They welcomed everyone to Windsor Castle. This is a private event, so the only part we get to see is the family arriving in cars.
“Together at Christmas”- The Princess of Wales’ Carol Service
This is now the second year of The Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. In 2021, she held the carol service to remind people of the holiday warmth and spirit when we could not gather together in person. It looks that it will be an annual event now. Several members of the extended Royal Family attended the 2022 service on 15 December, including The King and Queen, the entire Wales family (minus Louis), the Kents, the Gloucesters, the York sisters, and more. In 2021, The Duchess performed- we will see on Christmas Eve if she performs in the 2022 service.
Christmas at Sandringham
King George V started the tradition of hosting the immediate members of his family and their families for Christmas at Sandringham. His son, King George VI, continued that tradition as well. George VI actually passed away at Sandringham, and Queen Elizabeth II would head to Sandringham for Christmas and stay until the anniversary of her father’s passing, 6 February.
The Royal Family spends three to four days together with very specific traditions. Christmas Day is marked by several formal outfit changes and a cold lunch that allows employees to spend time with their families. Because they are the royal family and do not lack for anything at all, they exchange small, joke gifts instead. They also walk to church together, a favourite royal-watching moment. (Who will attend? What will they wear?)
Sandringham is actually relatively small for a royal residence, so space is cramped. Royals end up sleeping in what were once servants’ quarters, and many of the employees have to actually sleep in outer buildings.
The King’s Christmas Message
Known colloquially as the Queen’s Christmas Broadcast, it is now back to the King’s. The official title is The King’s Christmas Message, and the pre-recorded message will be broadcast across the UK at 3pm on Christmas Day. With this being Charles’ first holiday message as monarch, it will be interesting to see what the subject and tone is. His late mother’s messages were increasingly Christian in tone in her later years, but Charles has been very open about his multi-faith approach as a royal. On Friday 23 December, a photograph was released ahead of the message broadcast- The King has recorded his message in the chapel at Windsor!
If you want to know more about the Royal Christmas broadcast and its history, you can find my post here!
What stands out to you about Royal Christmas in Great Britain?
Cheers,
The Historian
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