This Christmas is set to be an unusual one for the Royal Family as COVID-19 once again plunges traditional plans into doubt. The Queen has cancelled the usual Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, instead opting to stay at Windsor Castle for the festive season, due to the rapid spread of the Omicron variant. She also cancelled the traditional pre-Christmas dinner for the family at Buckingham Palace. The decision is said to be a precautionary approach, after the Queen suffered a health setback in October.
Members of the Royal Family are expected to visit the Queen at Windsor where Covid-friendly guidelines will be followed.
This year also marks the Queen’s first Christmas since the passing of her beloved husband Prince Philip in April.
While the tradition to have a Christmas dinner together is an important one for the royals, that didn’t stop Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie skipping the event in 2011.
It was Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge’s first Christmas with the royals, but Eugenie and Beatrice instead decided to go to the Caribbean.
They were officially excused by the Queen so they could attend the wedding of Richard Branson’s daughter, Holly Branson, who is good friends with the royals.
She got married on the family’s private island, Necker Island, on December 20, 2011, the same place where her father had got married 22 years before.
Beatrice and Eugenie’s decision didn’t come without some scrutiny however.
The Daily Mail reported at the time that the sisters had made a “tactical error”, and that the decision could be evidence of “divided loyalty”.
While the sisters were away, one source claimed that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, was finding her feet in The Firm, and had even become a crucial member of the family.
The source said: “She has become the linchpin of the Windsors. Kate also goes to her for advice.
The Royal Family usually begin their Christmas celebrations on Christmas Eve, when all of the family members arrive one by one.
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The family members arrive in order of their seniority, with most senior royals coming later in the day.
According to royal Christmas traditions, Prince William and Prince Harry (before he moved to the US) would often play a very competitive game of Christmas Eve football against the staff at Sandringham.
They then adhere to a German Christmas tradition introduced by Prince Albert, by exchanging their presents on Christmas Eve.
The official Royal Family website states: “On Christmas Eve, the Royal Family lay out their presents on trestle tables and will exchange their gifts at teatime.”
All members of The Royal Household also receive Christmas presents from the Queen, with Her Majesty personally handing out gifts to some members of The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle.
On Christmas morning, the tradition is for the family to visit St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham.
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They later convene for lunch and, according to the official royal website, about 1,500 Christmas puddings paid for by the Queen (through the Privy Purse) are distributed to staff throughout the Palaces, including the Court Post Office and the Palace police.
Each pudding is accompanied by a greeting card from the Queen, which is hand-signed.
After the Queen’s speech at 3pm, the family spend quality time together in the evening.
On Boxing Day each year, the royals gather for the annual Boxing Day pheasant shoot at the Norfolk estate.