A royal author has shed light on how Christmas Day will look for the handful of senior royals invited to join King Charles and Queen Camilla at Sandringham on Thursday.
It is understood that the Prince and Princess of Wales are first on the guest list as heirs to the British throne, followed closely by their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.
Prince William’s cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will likely make an appearance with their husbands and children. In the former’s case, it will be Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their two daughters, Sienna, four, and Athena, 11 months, and for the letter, Jack Brooksbank and their two sons, August, four, and Ernest, one.
The sisters will celebrate the festive season without their parents for the first time this year.
Their father – formerly known as Prince Andrew – and the former Duchess of York, Sarah Ferguson, recently had their royal titles stripped in light of damning new revelations regarding their respective relationships with late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew is also the only one of the King’s siblings to be barred from the big day, with their youngest brother Prince Edward expected to rock up with his wife, Sophie Wessex and their two children, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
Their sister, the Princess Royal (Princess Anne) will also join the group with husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, and her daughter, Zara Tindall. The latter will spend the 25th with her rugby star husband Mike Tindall and their three children, too, and it’s not yet known whether her big brother, Peter Phillips, will attend.
As we say, it’s not just which royals which be attending this year’s seasonal soiree that has sparked curiosity amongst fans, but what the big day itself has in-store – and thankfully, one royal expert has all the answers.
Speaking to HELLO! this week, author Robert Jobson claimed that, while Christmas at Sandringham will likely bring much joy to those involved, the celebration isn’t likely to be the boozy, laid-back family affair that many of us are used to.
In fact, there’s a number of never-before-acknowledged regulations that all invited guests are supposedly expected to follow.
“There’s an unspoken rule for guests: do not arrive late,” he began of the morning get-together. “There is no grace period.”
Astonishingly, Jobson went on to reveal: “What many do not realise is that the King and his family will have been to church once already that morning for a private service, away from the cameras and onlookers.”
Then, following a second service at St Mary Magdalene’s Church, the group go on to complete the ‘odd custom’ – which reportedly dates back to Edward VIII – ‘of being weighed on antique jockey’s scales’.
After that, royals guests are back ‘on the clock’.
Given their strict timetable, Jobson continued: “They change for a formal lunch, served by royal staff in the dining room.
“Afterwards, most go on an afternoon walk – one of the few moments when the schedule loosens up. But even then, they are on a timer. By 5pm, everyone must be back for afternoon tea.”
Finally, when Christmas dinner arrives, having been specially prepared by royal warrant holder Tom Smith, everyone begins settling down, tucking into their roast complete with all the trimmings, and playing with luxury crackers.
“Everyone, even the King, wears paper hats from inside the crackers,” Jobson added.
