It all starts weeks before Christmas, when King Charles and Queen Camilla send around 850 Christmas cards to Heads of State, Commonwealth leaders, prominent politicians, friends and family.
However, they do not sit down to sign them together. King Charles signs his separately and then passes them to Camilla for her to add her signature. They also send personal cards to various friends and organizations with which each is associated.
Recipients can know their standing with the King and Queen by the way their cards are signed.
Cousins such as the Kents and Gloucesters are given a personal name added, while prominent political figures such as the Prime Minister and the Speaker of the House of Commons are given a formal Charles R or Camilla R.
Many of the ‘parasites’ don’t even get a signature, just a stamped name.
The king’s speech is recorded in December, a few weeks before Christmas. They like to leave it until the last minute in case there is any special news.
The Princess of Wales’s carol concert has become a permanent fixture on the royal calendar, attended by almost everyone in the family. This year will be very special and will focus on ‘how much we need others in difficult times’
Her Majesty distributes around 1,450 Christmas puddings to staff and former members, and also to police officers guarding the gates of Buckingham Palace.
They record the Christmas Day speech a few weeks before because they like to leave it until the last minute in case there is any special news.
His Majesty distributes around 1,450 Christmas puddings to staff and former members. And also to the police officers who guard the doors of Buckingham Palace.
Four generations of the royal family seen here preparing Christmas pudding for armed forces veterans in 2019.
By tradition, Her Majesty gives a quintal of coal to “deserving and needy” people in Windsor. It used to be around 900 people, during the early days of the Queen’s last reign, but today, as central heating has largely replaced coal fires, the number has been reduced to less than 100.
The staff receive their gift from the King by lining up in order of seniority, with members first, followed by officials and staff bringing up the rear. You are also invited to the Family Reception held in the Palace’s State Apartments.
The King gives away Christmas trees at different locations: two go to Westminster Abbey, St Paul’s Cathedral receives three and the Guard Chapel at Wellington Barracks in Edinburgh receives two.
St Giles Cathedral receives a tree, as does Cannongate Kirk, while Crathie Church and Balmoral receive one and other churches and schools near Sandringham receive trees each Christmas.
Friends and family who have been invited to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for the festivities are told when to arrive and in what order, with the youngest ordered to arrive first, followed by those in strict order of succession to the Throne. . .
And, despite her age and experience, Anne, Princess Royal, who is already at the finish line, will arrive quite early along with her husband, Vice-Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, and their children, Zara and Peter, and their families. .
The Prince of Wales, as first in the line of succession, unless he chooses to remain in his own home at Anmer, does not have to come last. But this year. He and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are expected to celebrate their own festivities at nearby Anmer Hall, their country home, with their children.
The Princess of Wales’s carol concert has become a permanent fixture on the royal calendar attended by almost everyone in the family. This year will be very special and will focus on ‘how much we need others in difficult times’
Friends and family who have been invited to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for the festivities are told when to arrive and in what order, with the youngest ordered to arrive first, followed by those in strict order of succession to the throne. . Throne
Since 1988, when Windsor Castle was being reconfigured, Royal Christmases returned to Sandringham and has been there ever since. The late Queen seen here walking in the snow with her grandson, Peter Phillips.
The King and Queen walk at the front on Christmas Day with the next in line to the throne, Prince William, walking with his family just behind his father.
Royal gifts at Sandringham are traditionally exchanged at tea time on Christmas Eve, not on Christmas Day.
The whole family secretly slips into the drawing room where the gifts are spread out on red tablecloths and, following Prince Philip’s earlier instructions, still obeyed, they should all be simple and, if possible, fun and inexpensive.
Another ancient custom that is preserved is that all gifts must be opened in front of the entire room. This is when a raucous laughter sounds and the one who laughs the most is the one who applauds the most.
An old custom that persists is that on Christmas Eve dinner is a formal “black tie” event and Her Majesty hates the “clip-on” variety, so gentlemen learn to tie their own. All the ladies wear evening dresses and tiaras. Dinner is at 8pm and drinks at 7pm, so anyone who wants to go to church, including midnight mass, has plenty of time.
Christmas Day dawns almost the same as any other day for the Royal Family. They don’t like lying in bed and are all filing out for breakfast at 8.30, which is substantial as they are all going out for a walk later in the day.
The whole family goes to church in the morning at 11am, but the King receives Holy Communion privately before the service from his own chaplain. When the collection plate is passed, the royal equerry, who sits immediately behind the King, passes him a new ten pound note. It used to be a fiver, but inflation hasn’t ignored Royalty.
Lunch, as is usual in most homes, is the main meal of the day and consists of the traditional roast turkey (home-grown, of course), but the chef always makes sure to have the King’s favorite meal ready, just in case. These are scrambled eggs and smoked salmon. But Her Majesty rarely puts her chef to the trouble of preparing this little extra for her. He’ll leave it for Boxing Day.
In reality, six lunches are served on Christmas Day. The first, at 11:00 a.m., is for junior staff. Then, an hour later, the senior footmen, followed by the Royal Family at 1.15pm.
The junior kitchen staff have theirs at 2.15pm, followed by the senior footmen and butlers and the royal chef is the last to sit down at 4.15pm, after everyone has watched the King’s Christmas broadcast. to 3:00 pm In the evening, charades are popular with the Royal Family.
Anmer Hall in Norfolk, where Prince William and Kate spend most of their weekends and holidays and is very close to Sandringham House
This year William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, are expected to celebrate their own festivities at nearby Anmer Hall, their country home, with their children.
Boxing Day starts with a “full English” (or Scottish) breakfast that includes bacon, eggs and also Kedgeree, a British rarity of smoked haddock, onion, curry and hard-boiled eggs. This is followed by the traditional ‘shot’ that no one dares to skip. Prince Philip is seen shooting at Sandringham in 2008.
Boxing Day begins with a “full English” (or Scottish) breakfast including bacon, eggs and also Kedgeree, that old British oddity of smoked haddock, onion, curry and hard-boiled eggs, which used to be served in a heavy sideboard. It’s more relaxed than the day before having breakfast whenever they like.
Then comes the traditional ‘shooting’ that no one dares to miss, unless they want to experience His Majesty’s displeasure. This begins when the King is ready and everyone is waiting for him.
Lunch consists of a stuffed bun, a slice of plum pudding, an apple and diluted whiskey to ward off the cold, while The King has the aforementioned scrambled eggs and smoked salmon and peach melba. Evenings are a time to relax, usually falling asleep on the couch.
Later that afternoon or evening, everyone but the immediate family leaves Sandringham having witnessed a rare opportunity to enjoy royal hospitality.
The late Queen Elizabeth, who was completely unsuspecting, ordered the decorations removed only when she had left Sandringham, not on the 12th night as most people do. The King is expected to follow his mother’s order.
The King and Queen stay a little longer but their work never stops. All private secretaries have been on duty during the holidays.