ROYAL CHRISTMAS! KING CHARLES INTRODUCES RADICAL CHANGES TO CHRISTMAS
How has royal Christmas changed since Charles III took the throne?
With the Royal Family’s holiday break fast approaching, many are asking how The King will mark the season. While he did carry on many of his mother’s traditions for the first Christmas of his reign, King Charles has been making changes to royal holiday traditions.
The King will be hosting many members of his family at Sandringham House, like his mother, Queen Elizabeth II did. His grandfather, King George VI, and great-grandfather, King George V, also spent their holiday break at Sandringham. The Norfolk estate is over 20,000 acres and features extensive hunting lands, park lands, and gardens.
The King and Queen will most likely arrive at Sandringham somewhere around 22-23 December where they will be joined by members of the Royal Family. As the house does not have that many available rooms and there are multiple generations of royals attending, the staff typically stay in separate buildings.
This year marks a new change for King Charles and Queen Camilla, as The Queen has reportedly invited her children and grandchildren for the holidays. Historically she would leave Sandringham in the afternoon to spend time with her family.
Because the family has grown so large and there are additional guests, many speculate that dinner may be held in one of the ballrooms rather than in the dining room.
The extended Royal Family should be making their morning walk together to a service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Estate.
One tradition that The King did not follow in 2022 and is not expected to return to is remaining at Sandringham until February 6. The late Queen stayed at Sandringham until 6 February as it was the anniversary of her father’s death and her Accession Day.
King Charles’s Christmas plans have reportedly left royal staff disgruntled as the monarch has chosen to add more family members to the guest list.
The King has decided to expand the guest list for Christmas at Sandringham to make space for more family members.
Queen Camilla’s children and grandchildren will now join the Royal Family for part of the festive period, according to the Mail.
Royal staff have been asked to give up their rooms to accommodate the visitors and move to small quarters.
It comes as a former royal butler warned that snubbing Meghan Markle and Prince Harry over the Christmas period will not be a good look for King Charles.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spent the last three Christmas periods away from the UK.
However, in November Prince Harry rang King Charles on his 75 birthday in a move that appeared to be an olive branch to the Royal Family.
Meghan Markle also spoke to the King over the phone on his birthday.
The conversation between the Sussexes and King Charles may have opened the door to the couple spending Christmas with the Royal Family.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold said it would be a “big statement” if Meghan and Harry spent Christmas away from the Royal Family.
Harrold told Slingo: “The King will do what he can to carry on that tradition as it has been what he’s used to while growing up.
