The Royal Family gather at Sandringham for Christmas celebrations each year but one tradition is reportedly set to change
Prince William is reportedly planning to break with a long-standing and outdated Christmas tradition within the royal family.
Every year, the royals gather at Sandringham for their festive celebrations. However, one of these traditions, where royals exchange “joke” £5 gifts based on their seniority in the family, is set to change.
The game traditionally sees the King, or previously the late Queen, distribute the inexpensive presents from a table according to the hierarchy of the royal family. Insiders have suggested that Prince William plans to modernise or even eliminate this antiquated custom when he ascends to the throne.
In recent years, Prince William, along with Kate and their children, has celebrated Christmas in a different manner. It’s believed that William and Kate favour more relaxed Christmas gatherings at Anmer Hall in Norfolk, alongside the Middletons and their children, reports the Mirror.
The formalities and ceremonies of the traditional royal Christmas celebration at Sandringham contrast sharply with the laid-back, traditional Christmas that the future King is said to prefer. According to the Daily Mail, the £5 gift tradition involves the more senior royals receiving their present first, while the more junior members must wait their turn.
However, a source has suggested that while the concept of the gifts is likely to continue, the hierarchical element of the tradition is expected to be discarded.
They said: “While William’s mind is on much bigger changes than just the trestle table, it’s well known to be one of those antiquated traditions that he’s never really taken to. You can expect that to be one of the first things to go when he eventually hosts his first Sandringham Christmas.”
Among the formal traditions at the Sandringham Christmas is a black tie dinner on Christmas Eve, where the family is seated according to hierarchy. The source explained why they believe King Charles has maintained several of these longstanding Christmas traditions with his family.
They added: “It’s just not William’s way of doing things at home and he has apparently quipped in the past that he wouldn’t continue any of that stuff, though he appreciates his father does it for the nostalgia and as a way to remember the Queen.”
One notable change to this year’s Christmas family gathering is that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will not be present, following King Charles’ dramatic decision to strip his brother of his royal titles and privileges.
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are set to be removed from their Royal Lodge residence. Andrew will be relocated to a property on the private Sandringham Estate, while Fergie has been told to make her own arrangements.
This move, however, is scheduled to take place after Christmas, meaning the disgraced pair will spend one final Christmas at Royal Lodge and keeps Andrew and Fergie away from Sandringham during the festive season.
