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Surprising Royal Family Holiday Traditions You Didn't Know About

Women's Health

December 12, 2020 at 12:00 AM

Surprising Royal Family Holiday Traditions You Didn't Know About

The Queen hosts a pre-Christmas lunch for extended family.

The royals are obsessed with Christmas cards.

But royal Christmas cards are actually very low-key.

The Queen personally signs every Christmas card she sends.

The Queen's Christmas card list is extensive.

Senior royals are expected to host several holiday engagements.

The Queen gives to local charities for the holidays.

The royal family spend Christmas at Sandringham Estate.

The Queen hires out an entire train carriage to get there.

The rest of the family arrives on Christmas Eve, in order of importance.

Prince Harry and Prince William play an annual Christmas Eve game of soccer.

They have two Christmas trees.

One of their trees is EXTREMELY tall.

And they decorate the tree together.

The royal tree is always decorated with family heirlooms.

Prince Philip always puts the star atop the tree.

Royal kids help decorate the tree.

The royals love to decorate the same way we all do for the holidays.

The Queen approves ALL royal Christmas decorations

The Queen puts her Christmas staff through a very...unique test.

They shop at department stores.

Gifts are opened on Christmas Eve.

George sneaks his presents early.

The royals famously give each other gag gifts.

The staff are given gifts.

Everyone watches the Queen's Christmas address.

The Queen reads corny jokes to everyone.

The royal family always attends church on Christmas morning.

There's plenty of drinking.

Beginning with a Christmas Eve Martini.

The royals like their holiday drinks STRONG.

The Queen honors the head chef with a toast.

Kids aren't allowed at Christmas dinner.

The Christmas meal is black-tie—and very exclusive.

The Christmas dinner menu is in French.

The royals don't overeat at Christmas.

Christmas days begins with a buffet.

Christmas dinner goes late.

The next day, the men go shooting.

Over all, royal holidays are shockingly normal.

Surprising Royal Family Holiday Traditions You Didn't Know About

The holidays are upon us and that means lots of time with family and indulging in nostalgia-inducing holiday traditions. The royals are just like any other family in this way—they have their own set of traditions, many of which get carried out behind closed (palace, castle, and estate) doors.

Here are 40 royal family holiday traditions that you probably didn't know about—including a few that might surprise you.

Getty Images

Including exactly what the Queen likes to drink on Christmas day.

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