How Prince William, Kate Middleton, and the British Royal Family Spend Christmas

Madeleine Luckel

How Prince William, Kate Middleton, and the British Royal Family Spend Christmas 

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, December 2015.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, December 2015.
Photo: Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II making her first-ever Christmas broadcast to the nation from Sandringham House in Norfolk on December 25, 1952.
Queen Elizabeth II making her first-ever Christmas broadcast to the nation from Sandringham House in Norfolk on December 25, 1952.
Photo: Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip look at their decorated Christmas tree, 1969.
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip look at their decorated Christmas tree, 1969.
Photo: Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II looking at photo albums with her sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward for her 1971 Christmas broadcast.
Queen Elizabeth II looking at photo albums with her sons Prince Andrew and Prince Edward for her 1971 Christmas broadcast.
Photo: Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, and Prince William walking with the vicar of St. Mary Magdalene Church near Sandringham House on Christmas Day, 1988.
Queen Elizabeth II, the Queen Mother, and Prince William walking with the vicar of St. Mary Magdalene Church near Sandringham House on Christmas Day, 1988.
Photo: Getty Images
Princess Diana with her sons, Harry and William, leaving the church of St. Mary Magdalene near Sandringham House on Christmas Day, 1994.
Princess Diana with her sons, Harry and William, leaving the church of St. Mary Magdalene near Sandringham House on Christmas Day, 1994.
Photo: Getty Images
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, collects flowers from well-wishers at a Christmas Day church service near Sandringham on December 25, 2014.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, collects flowers from well-wishers at a Christmas Day church service near Sandringham on December 25, 2014.
Photo: Getty Images
Prince William and Prince Harry play in the annual Sandringham Football Match, December 2015.
Prince William and Prince Harry play in the annual Sandringham Football Match, December 2015.
Photo: Getty Images
Prince William, Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, December 2015.
Prince William, Prince Charles, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall attend a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, December 2015.
Photo: Getty Images
Queen Elizabeth II boards a train at King’s Lynn Station to return to London after her Christmas break at Sandringham House, February 2016.
Queen Elizabeth II boards a train at King’s Lynn Station to return to London after her Christmas break at Sandringham House, February 2016.
Photo: Getty Images
In 2017, the newly-engaged Meghan Markle attended her first Christmas at Sandringham.
In 2017, the newly-engaged Meghan Markle attended her first Christmas at Sandringham.
Photo: Getty Images
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walking to church with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walking to church with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.
Joe Giddens - PA Images

The Brits celebrate Christmas slightly differently than their American counterparts (that’s “Happy Christmas,” to you!) But the royal family has its own fair share of unique traditions.

While Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and baby Archie have opted to spend this year privately with Meghan's mother, Doria, most of the Windsor clan will head to Sandringham in Norfolk (more on the later) for the holidays. This December, that's said to include the entire Cambridge family: Prince William, Kate Middleton, and their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Generally, a royal Christmas features a mix of formal events and cozy gatherings—with a jam-packed schedule unfolding over the course of two days.

The Location

The royal family spends Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk. The Queen and Prince Philip typically make this annual trip by public train. The pair leaves London a few days before the holiday, and usually stay at the residence through early February. The estate itself is a Jacobethan manor, which sits on 20,000 acres of land.

Christmas Eve

The extended clan typically descends on Sandringham on Christmas Eve day. Orders of business include an afternoon tea. The family will also exchange gifts on the 24th—as opposed to Christmas morning. (But the tokens are usually of the humorous variety, rather than a new set of crown jewels.) At night, there is a black-tie sit-down meal.

Christmas Morning

The royal family attends two church services on Christmas morning. The first is a private family service at Church of St. Mary Magdalene. The second is a more formal public service, which begins 11:00 a.m. Everyone, other than the Queen, walks to church together, as crowds gather to watch. It's rumored that, this year, Prince George and Princess Charlotte will make their first "Christmas Walk" from Sandringham to St. Mary Magdalene.

Christmas Day and Evening

After church, it’s time for lunch back at Sandringham in the Red Drawing Room (where a turkey meal is tradition). The Queen’s annual Christmas address to the nation airs at 3:00 p.m., and the whole family gathers to watch. (Her speech, however, is typically recorded beforehand.) Afterward, it’s time for puzzles and exercise around the grounds, followed by family movie night in the ballroom. Maybe this year, though, they’ll change things up and binge-watch The Crown? Here’s hoping.

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Originally Appeared on Vogue