Every year, the British royal family comes together like any other family, to celebrate Christmas. Unlike most, however, Christmas at Sandringham is a festivity steeped in history and tradition all inside a palatial 29-bedroom mansion on a 20,000 acre estate. Here’s a full breakdown of a royal Christmas; from food to outfit changes:
As well as the annual Christmas celebrations, including a Christmas morning church service at the local chapel, the property is also where The Queen often filmed her annual televised Christmas Message, and where, at 3pm on Christmas Day, the family would gather round to watch the televisual event. This year will be the first Christmas without The Queen’s address, marking King Charles III’s first Christmas message. According to reports, The King isn’t planning to have him and his family watch the 10-minute address, but other Christmas traditions will continue to go ahead, so what are they?
Christmas Eve
Though The Queen usually arrived several days before, the official festivities kicked off on Christmas Eve at 4pm when the family come together in the saloon (pictured above) for afternoon tea consisting of Earl Grey tea served with cake, scones and finger sandwiches (served square, without crusts). Christmas Eve is also the family’s traditional gift-giving day with presents laid on tables next to signs marking each family member’s collection of presents. A ‘simple’ dinner is then served.
Christmas Morning
Christmas Day begins at 8:30am in the dining room where men are served traditional English Breakfasts (eggs, bacon, mushrooms, toast etc.), while women dine on fruits, toast and coffee in their rooms at 9am. Then it is time for an outfit change (a smart and warm outfit including hats for ladies) in preparation for the 11am church service at St Mary Magdalene (pictured above), over 300 meters away on the Sandringham Estate. The church service is usually where royals are seen publicly on Christmas Day as they walk to and from the church, greeting well wishers who line the route. The church can fit a roughly 100-strong congregation, with the monarch sitting front row.
Christmas Lunch
When the family return from church it is time for another outfit change (smart-casual: smarter than jeans, more casual than a suit) and some pre-lunch champagne in the drawing room (pictured above). Though lunch is considered more ‘relaxed’ than what will be a more formal affair at dinner time, it is still served promptly at 1pm with starched napkins elaborately folded, candelabras and other decorations. Lunch is considered informal because of the lack of assigned seats and no starters. A roast turkey from the local butcher is served along with all the traditional Christmas trimmings (sage and onion stuffing, roast potatoes, cranberry sauce, Brussel sprouts, roasted parsnips etc.) followed by a Christmas pudding in brandy, which is lit by the palace steward. Lunchtime is also time for enjoying traditional Christmas crackers. Lunch ends with a cheese course with plenty of port.
Christmas Afternoon
After a stroll outside or an afternoon nap, and another outfit change into something slightly more formal (like a cocktail dress), the family usually gathered round again at 3pm to watch The Queen’s Christmas message. It is unknown if anything is planned for this time for the first year without The Queen. At 4pm afternoon tea is served, this time with a festive theme of Christmas cake, mince pies, a chocolate Yule log and plenty of brandy butter, scones and sandwiches.
Christmas Dinner
Now for the most formal part of the day, with another outfit change. Pre-dinner aperitifs begin promptly at 7:45pm, followed by Christmas Dinner in the dining room. This is when everybody dresses up in their finest (gown-length dresses and formal suits, nothing revealing or gaudy). Dinner is an indulgent affair with stuffed boar’s head, roasted hams, game, ox tongue and a host of vegetables doused in sauces followed by a whole separate table dedicated to chocolates.
Boxing Day
For those who wish to take part, Boxing Day starts with the men going shooting, later accompanied by the ladies who, having already taken breakfast in their rooms, convene together at the estate cottage for another feast. The Boxing Day lunch is often comprised of venison stew, beef bourguignon and veg followed by fried slices of Christmas pudding. This is when many leave, taking the opportunity to spend the rest of their Christmas time with their in-laws or for the ‘married-ins’; their own families, but for those who stay, there is another dinner is hosted that evening usually featuring game from that morning’s shoot.
Learn more about Sandringham, and see inside other rooms of the house in this previous post, or take a look at other royal residences, such as Balmoral Castle, by browsing the ‘royalty‘ tag.