Prince Harry and William’s Christmas tradition revealed by expert
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be celebrating their first Christmas in California with their one-year-old son Archie Harrison Mountbatten-Windsor. The couple have not been back to the UK since they stepped down as senior royals, due to the coronavirus travel restrictions. Instead, they have been busy setting up their new lives and this week announced they will be starting a podcast on Spotify.
Usually, the Royal Family all gather at Sandringham House at this time of year and Prince Harry is partial to a Sandringham cider, as is his brother Prince William.
This is an alcoholic beverage brewed from the estate’s own apples.
Among the rest of the family, martinis mixed by a servant are among the most popular drinks.
These drinks are enjoyed in the hall after the gift exchange on Christmas Eve.
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The brothers are separated at Christmas again (Image: GETTY)
The cider is made from apples grown on the Sandringham estate itself (Image: GETTY)
For the royals, Christmas Eve is when the festivities really kick off, with all the family arriving at Sandringham in order of precedence.
Upon arrival, they are ushered to their rooms and then at around 4pm they change into outfits suitable for tea and gather in the White Drawing Room.
Young royals will add finishing touches to the Christmas tree, a Norfolk spruce taken from the 1,000-acre estate.
The Master of the Household will give each member of the family a timetable and room plan so they know when and where to go.
The Queen’s Christmas broadcast is always at 3pm on Christmas Day (Image: GETTY)
Then, they will exchange gifts, which is done the day before Christmas in keeping with their German heritage.
Trestle tables are laid out in the Red Drawing Room with sections marked off with tape where each family member’s gifts are placed.
These gifts, which are usually cheap, joke presents, are also handed out in order of precedence.
Famous examples over the years have been Prince Charles’ toilet seat from Princess Anne, the Queen’s shower cap with the slogan ‘Ain’t Life a B****’ from Prince Harry, and Harry’s ‘grow your own girlfriend’ kit from Kate, Duchess of Cambridge.
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The Cambridges’ Christmas card photo (Image: Matt Porteous / The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge/Kensington Palace via Getty Images)
Harry and Meghan will be celebrating with their son Archie (Image: GETTY)
Then, the royals all go through to the hall to enjoy their festive drinks, before going to their rooms for baths and a change of clothes.
A gong will go at 8pm for pre-dinner drinks, and then the family will sit down to a candlelit three-course meal at 8:15pm.
The men dress in black tie and the women in evening gowns and jewels.
At around 10pm, the women move to another room for coffee and men are offered liqueurs.
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The Queen normally goes to bed around midnight and no one is allowed to retire before her.
On Christmas Day, the royals go to church and enjoy a Christmas lunch, followed by a shoot on Boxing Day.
However, the Queen has decided to cancel the festivities at Sandringham this year due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The Royal Family go to church on Christmas morning (Image: GETTY)
She will be quietly celebrating with Prince Philip at Windsor Castle, with the rest of her family scattered around.
Harry and Meghan will be the furthest away from family this year, although it is possible they may meet up with Meghan’s mother Doria, who lives in Los Angeles.
Sadly, Harry will not get to taste his favourite Christmas drink this year, but he will likely be forging new traditions with his little family in the US.
