Courtesy of the British Library
Each December, the British royal family gathers at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for a Christmas celebration. Similar to royal protocol, the Windsors maintain a rigorous schedule of customs with some dating back to Queen Victoria’s reign, while others are derived from German royal tradition. Here are the lesser-known protocols that define a royal Christmas.
The Royals Arrive in Order of Seniority
Protocol dictates that family members arrive at Sandringham in reverse order of importance, with the most junior royals appearing first and the most senior—now King Charles and Queen Camilla—arriving last. This hierarchical system ensures the monarch doesn’t have to wait for anyone.
They Get Weighed Before and After Dinner
Every guest at Sandringham must step on antique scales upon arrival and again after Christmas dinner. The practice dates to King Edward VII, who wanted proof his guests had properly indulged in the lavish multi-course feast, ideally gaining at least three pounds. Queen Elizabeth II maintained the tradition throughout her reign. Despite its controversial nature, the custom persists as an unusual measure of holiday success.
They Open Gifts on Christmas Eve—and They’re Quite Unusual!
The royals exchange presents on December 24th, not Christmas morning, following a German tradition called Heiligabend Bescherung. At teatime, around 70 family members gather along a white-clothed trestle table complete with wrapped packages. The gifts must be cheap and funny, designed to provide laughter, rather than impress.
Charades Are Mandatory
After the King’s televised Christmas address airs at 3 p.m. (pre-recorded earlier), the family gathers for afternoon tea featuring Christmas cake, chocolate yule log, mince pies with brandy butter, scones, and sandwiches. Then comes the main event: a mandatory game of charades that no one is allowed to skip. According to reports, the Windsors take their charades quite seriously. The evening continues with additional games including jigsaw puzzles or movies projected onto a screen in the ballroom. A formal dinner buffet is served at 8:15 p.m.
Christmas Breakfast Is Separated by Gender
Christmas morning at Sandringham implements a traditional gender dichotomy. The men convene in the dining room at 8:30 a.m. for a full English breakfast. Meanwhile, the women receive continental breakfasts in their rooms around 9 a.m., consisting of fruit, toast, and coffee. The reason for keeping couples apart on Christmas morning remains rooted in longstanding royal protocol and tradition. After breakfast, everyone gathers to attend the 11 a.m. church service at St. Mary Magdalene, the sixteenth-century church on the Sandringham estate that was originally visited by Queen Victoria.
Christmas Decorations Stay Up Until February
While most people take down their trees by the end of December, the Queen kept Sandringham’s Christmas decorations up until February 6th. The date marks the anniversary of her father King George VI’s death at Sandringham in 1952, when she was only 25 years old. Will King Charles III still implement this tradition?
