While you’re tearing open presents, stuffing your faces with the pre-turkey smoked salmon and arguing over what film to put on, have you ever wondered what the Royal Family are up to on Christmas Day?
It’s hard to imagine them in their Christmas PJs gone midday, arguing over a game of Articulate or crying because the turkey has dried out, isn’t it?
So what exactly do the royals get up to on the happiest day of the year, where will they be spending it and who is on the Queen’s guest list?
Where do the royals spend Christmas Day?
Traditionally, the Royal Family Christmases have been spent at Sandringham House on the Sandringham estate, which is the royals’ private Norfolk residence.
It gives them the perfect festive break away from London, being 110 miles north of the capital.
Queen Elizabeth II has actually spent every single Christmas at Sandringham House since her father’s death in 1952.
In fact, the house has always been somewhat of a soft spot for the Royal Family.
As well as being the setting fro the very first Christmas broadcast in 1932, King George V – the Queen’s grandfather – once described it as ‘dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere else in the world’.
George actually died at the house on 20 January 1936 and while it originally went to his son Edward VIII, when Edward abdicated his brother, King George VI, bought it from him.
George VI also once fondly wrote to his mother, Queen Mary, of the house, saying: ‘I have always been so happy here and I love the place’. He, too, died at Sandringham on 6 February 1952.
Sandringham House then passed on to Queen Elizabeth II when she succeeded the throne following his death.
From then, she has spent every Christmas with her family at Sandringham, staying there each winter until 6 February, the anniversary of her father’s death, to privately pay her respects.
The Queen’s very first Christmas Day message was broadcast from Sandringham in 1957 too.
The Queen’s three predecessors – King George VI, King George V and King Edward VII – all enjoyed their Christmases at Sandringham. However, Queen Victoria used to spend the festive season at Windsor Castle.
While it is her private home – along with Balmoral Castle in Scotland – the Queen opened its doors to the public for her Silver Jubilee in 1977.
The fact plans to demolish the house and replace it with modern architecture were demolished in the 1960s is testament to the Queen’s fondness of Sandringham.
What do the royals do on Christmas Day?
Christmas Day for the Royal Family begins at Sandringham House where the Queen’s nearest and dearest enjoy a big breakfast.
Those staying on the estate but not at the house, such as the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge who stay at their residence of Anmer House on the Sandringham Estate, will make sure they arrive at the house in plenty of time in the morning.
After breakfast, the royals make their way to the Christmas Day service at 11am, walking from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, which is where the Queen’s father’s body was placed directly following his death before it was taken to Westminster Abbey in London.
Hundreds of well-wishers turn out each year to catch a glimpse of the royals on their Christmas walk.
After the service, they make their way back to Sandringham House.
They will then enjoy a private lunch and, after that, they all sit down to watch the Queen’s Christmas speech at 3pm.
The evening sees the royals enjoying a buffet of up to 20 different dishes.
Then it’s time for games. However, this year, the Duchess of Sussex has apparently been gently warned by Prince Harry not to beat the Queen at their annual game of charades.
‘The Duchess has to resist that American urge to win at everything,’ a source told the publication.
‘The whole family likes to play charades on Christmas night, and she must never beat the Queen, who is a fine actress herself.’
After the games, the Queen apparently likes to indulge in sweet chocolate treat, which will no doubt taste that bit sweeter if she’s just beaten everyone at charades.
One thing the royals don’t do is open presents on Christmas Day.
Instead, the royals open their gifts after afternoon tea on Christmas Eve, as is the German tradition.
According to former royal chef, Darren McGrady, the decorations at the house are rather subtle.
Speaking to Good Housekeeping, he said: ‘The Queen is not lavish, so the décor is minimal. The Royal Family has a large Christmas tree and a large silver artificial tree in the dining room, which is about 30 years old.’
What do they eat on Christmas Day?
McGrady says the royals enjoy a ‘hardy’ breakfast before heading to church, before heading back for their lavish lunch.
‘After church, that’s when they have a big lunch that includes a salad with shrimp or lobster, and a roasted turkey, and all of your traditional side dishes like parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert,’ he said.
‘They stick with the same meal year after year.’
Of the buffet, he adds: ‘It’s always a buffet with the chefs at the table carving. They don’t do appetizers on Christmas. Appetizers and canapes are reserved for New Year’s Eve.’
Speaking of the Queen’s penchant for chocolate, he then added: ‘The queen is a major chocoholic, particularly dark chocolate, so she always has a chocolate treat on Christmas. She also loves mint.’
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