A Royal Christmas: A Look at the British Family's Holiday Traditions
The British royal family has a special way of celebrating Christmas. Every year, they come together at Sandringham, their country estate. King Charles and Queen Camilla lead the family to a church service. Many people show up to see them and wish them a happy holiday.
This Year's Gathering
This year, the King and Queen were joined by:
- Prince William, Princess Kate, and their three kids
- Charles's siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward
- Princess Margaret's children and grandchildren
After church, they usually have a big Christmas lunch. They open presents on Christmas Eve, following an old German custom.
Absent Family Members
Some family members were missing this year:
- Prince Andrew will move to Sandringham soon, but he wasn't there for this Christmas.
- Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their kids also didn't join. They haven't celebrated Christmas with the royals since 2018.
The Church Service
People woke up early to see the royals walk to church. King Charles and Queen Camilla led the way, as they always do.
- Princess Kate wore a brown wool coat with a check pattern.
- Prince William kept warm with a scarf.
- Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, were also there.
- So were Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank.
Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, walked with her kids, James and Lady Louise. Prince Edward also wore a scarf from Highgrove. Lady Louise's hat had big, dramatic feathers. Princess Anne's daughter, Zara, held hands with her daughter, Lena Tindall. Mike Tindall, Zara's husband, was there too.
After the Service
After the service, King Charles and Queen Camilla left the church. Princess Charlotte walked with her cousins, Lena and Mia Tindall.
The royals' Christmas traditions show a mix of old customs and family bonding. It's a time for them to come together and celebrate.
