Just like every other family, the British royals also have their own set of special Christmas traditions — including charades and pre-Christmas lunches.
Many of the royal family’s Christmas traditions are centuries old, dating back to Victorian times. The Royal Family traditionally spends Christmas and New Year at Sandringham House, however Christmases during the sixties were celebrated at Windsor Castle, where the royal family spends Easter.
Things may look a little different in 2023 but here are some of the royal family Christmas traditions they have celebrated over the years…
Queen Charlotte, consort of George III, is thought to have introduced the Christmas tree to the Royal Family. The later enthusiasm of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the custom helped spread the popularity throughout the country. Today, The Queen and Members of her family, will usually put the final touches on their Christmas tree.
- Windsor Castle 2019
The festive season has officially begun when the Late Queen may rest in peace, saw Christmas trees put up at her home of Windsor Castle today.
But while many people will be unboxing last year’s 5ft fake pine from the box, the monarch ensured she did not scrimp on the main attraction in her festive decorations.
Palace staff put up two Nordmann firs, which had been specially chopped down in Windsor Great Park,
In the castle’s Crimson Drawing Room, a 15ft tree was erected, while a 20ft version was placed in St George’s Hall.
2. St George’s Hall 2019
Palace staff decorate the 20ft tree in the castle’s St George’s Hall 2019
Several employees has to climb tall ladders every year to hang decorations due to the Christmas trees height.
As per the decoration style they are usually red and gold baubles, although my personal favourites are the miniature crowns .
While the royal family spend Christmas at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, the festive occasion has become an attraction at the castle, and His Majesty is expected to be in residence much of December.
The tradition started when Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert imported a 26ft Nordmann fir from Germany one year – a move that kick-started the British obsession with Christmas trees.
On the middle picture below you can see The Waterloo Chamber which features a smaller Christmas tree, as well as portraits of monarchs, military figures, and political leaders who helped defeat Napoleon during the famous battle in 1815.
Windsor Castle’s Christmas decorations for this year will be on display and open to the public until January 1, 2024.
3. Windsor Castle 2023
Glittering photos show the royal family’s Windsor Castle residence decked out for Christmas 2023.
Today’s royal family usually join the Queen from Christmas Eve to Boxing Day at Sandringham.
There is a strict timetable detailing when breakfast is, when the dogs are walked, and when they should go to bed.
It is tradition on Christmas Eve that the family will exchange ‘cheap and cheerful’ gifts and also enjoy a game of charades.
At dinner on December 24th, the men wear black tie and the women change into gowns and wear their most expensive jewellery, including tiaras.
4. Buckingham Palace 2018
Royal family reveals Buckingham Palace Christmas decorations for 2018 .
On Christmas Day, the family attends morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham and then returns home for a traditional Christmas lunch. After lunch, the family sits down to watch the queen’s annual televised Christmas message.
In the evening, the royal family gathers again for a Christmas buffet dinner with 15 to 20 different delicacies prepared by King Charles’s chef. The day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in the U.K., finds the royals partaking in the traditional Boxing Day pheasant shoot on the grounds of Sandringham.
5. Windsor Castle 2020
The Royal Collection Trust shared a video showing the selection process of the tree in Windsor Great Park, before it was transported back to the castle via the Long Walk.
It was captioned, “Watch as a 20-foot Norwegian Spruce is selected and felled by the Forestry Team in Windsor Great Park, part of the Crown Estate, before being transported to #WindsorCastle.”
Queen Charlotte was first to introduce a Christmas tree to Windsor Castle in the late 18th century – a yew branch, in honour of her native Germany.
Since, Queen Victoria and Prince Albert have gone on to popularise the tradition in Britain, and the current monarch is clearly in favour of upholding the ritual.
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