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All families have their own traditions at Christmas, and royalty around the world are no different.
The British Royal Family is known for spending the festive period at Sandringham, where they are seen visiting the church and meeting well-wishers on a walk.
Meanwhile, in Monaco, Prince Albert and Princess Charlene join Red Cross volunteers to hand out gifts to children in the run-up to Christmas.
And in Denmark, the monarchy celebrates it through Danish folklore: hiding elves around their palace in Copenhagen.
Read on below as MailOnline reveals some of the Christmas traditions of royals around the world.
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip decorate a Christmas tree at Windsor Castle
Sandringham
The British royal family usually spends Christmas at Sandringham, rather than other residences such as Windsor, Balmoral or Buckingham Palace.
Former royal chef Darren McGrady previously told the Daily Mirror that the residence of Norfolk is more of a “home away from home” compared to the other neighborhoods.
He explained: “Unlike Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace, which are owned by the State, Sandringham is owned by royalty, making it a real home from home and a place to truly relax.”
The late Queen Elizabeth II used to stay from December to February, until after the anniversary of her father’s death on February 6.
In 2023, King Charles stayed for the festive period before moving to Balmoral in January this year.
The late Queen and her family attended a church service on Christmas Day 2017.
The King’s favorite food
The British royal family’s Christmas dinner usually consists of the classic roast turkey with all the trimmings, plus other delicacies such as ox tongue and stuffed boar’s head.
And on Boxing Day, shredded and roasted turkey is traditionally served in velouté sauce, which is one of Charles’s favorite dishes, according to food writer and son of Queen Camilla, Tom Parker Bowles.
The corgis’ Christmas menu
McGrady previously wrote in The Mail on Sunday how when she worked for the Royal Family, even the late Queen’s corgis had a Christmas dinner.
They were well-fed pets and enjoyed eating rabbit, beef or chicken for dinner served with cabbage and rice.
There were 12 dogs at the time McGrady worked, but the remaining two now live with Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York.
Prince Charles sitting at the table after attending a Christmas service in 1982
Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, pictured smiling with a turkey
Festive football matches
Known for his love of sports, it is not surprising that royalty also incorporated it into Christmas.
An annual soccer match was once played with Prince William and Prince Harry on opposing teams.
It would involve friends and family from the Sandringham Estate in nearby Castle Rising.
The brothers played each other in a 90-minute match in 2005 and the match ended with a handshake after Harry’s team won.
A spectator at the time said: ‘Both princes got into the spirit of the game and sweated quite a bit.
“They certainly stood their ground and didn’t shy away from tackles. There was a lot of running and they seemed to have fun. Harry seemed quite fit and was quick on the wing.
‘William played a good game, but missed what could have been an easy goal. It was a well-organized game on a marked out field with proper goals and goalposts.’
In 2008, Harry’s team won again and the brothers even performed ‘something strange with each other’, according to the Mail at the time.
Princes Harry and William playing a festive football game on Christmas Eve 2008.
German Christmas tradition for British royalty
In a nod to their German heritage, the British Royal Family traditionally opens their gifts together on Christmas Eve.
They are often small, cheerful gifts, rather than extravagant. The gifts are labeled and arranged on a table.
Harry recalled one Christmas Eve in his book Spare and described how: “By custom, at the beginning of the night, each of us would locate his place and stand in front of his pile of presents.”
He described how he received a pen with a plastic fish wrapped around it from his great-aunt Margaret, but saw the gesture as “cold-blooded”.
Festive costumes and reindeer pasture in Monaco
Princess Charlene of Monaco previously revealed some sweet Christmas traditions her family practices.
She told French magazine Point de Vue, according to Peoplethat his twins, Prince Jacques and Princess Gabriella, leave out treats for Santa Claus.
She said: “They always leave him a glass of milk and biscuits, as well as water and grass for his reindeer.”
Prince Albert also likes to join in the celebration and “always wants to wear something festive for the occasion,” the princess reportedly said.
Princess Charlene and Prince Albert of Monaco, dressed in festive hats and ties, in 2017
Christmas gift delivery in Monaco
Prince Albert and Princess Charlene host an annual gift-giving event at the Prince’s Palace.
Every year, lucky children are invited to the royal residence to receive Christmas gifts.
Their two children previously joined them at the event.
The tradition began decades ago by Prince Albert’s mother, Princess Grace, according to tatler.
Princess Grace of Monaco gave gifts to children in 1973
Charlene chats with the families who visited the palace for the gift-giving event last year.
Danish Christmas elves
In 2021, the Danish Royal Family shared how Queen Margaret made little elves to hide in the palace.
Similar to the popular Elf on the Shelf tradition, the small red figures were placed in hiding places such as chandeliers and curtains.
The concept seems to be related to Nisser, a mischievous creature from Danish folklore who protects the house and only eats on Christmas Eve.
They launched a digital advent calendar in 2021 that shows where the elves were hiding each day.
Queen Margaret makes handmade Christmas elves that will hide in the palace in 2021
The elves hidden in various places in the palace, including a chandelier and curtains.
King Frederick and Queen Mary with their four children (Prince Christian, Princess Elizabeth, Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine) in 2021
Sinterklaas and Dutch royalty
It is traditional for Dutch families to welcome Sinterklaas, a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas.
The Royal Family of the Netherlands is also known to participate in the festivities.
In 2012, Queen Máxima was photographed with her three daughters, princesses Catharina-Amalia, Alexia and Ariane, greeting Sinterklaas in Scheveningen.
Tradition means that gifts are usually given on December 5 in the Netherlands, on the eve of Saint Nicholas.
Sinterklaas, a legendary figure based on Saint Nicholas, photographed in 2019
Spanish royalty on Christmas Eve
The Spanish royal family, like British royalty, also exchanges gifts on Christmas Eve, according to the Daily Express.
The tradition of exchanging gifts on December 24 comes from Germany, where die Bescherung is celebrated and gifts are distributed.