Queen Elizabeth II Valued Family and Tradition—Now Duchess Kate Plans to Change Things
London – The British royal family’s Christmas traditions have been established for nearly 200 years. Now, they may be set for change as Duchess Kate (42) challenges them. What does this mean for the much-anticipated royal holiday?
Duchess Kate Is Reshaping Royal Christmas Traditions
Christmas traditions are an integral part of both middle-class and aristocratic families, and the British royal family is no exception. Queen Elizabeth II (96, †2022) in particular made every effort to unite the family, gathering all members at the private estate despite the ongoing differences between her royal sons, William (42) and Harry (40). However, new voices suggest that no reconciliation between King Charles III (76) and his son Harry is likely this Christmas.
Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, eastern England, has long been the family’s traditional Christmas residence. Even after retiring there for the festivities, some official duties remained in London. Christmas Day customs include attending the church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, followed by a traditional walkabout to greet the waiting public and press, and then a festive dinner with turkey and the monarch’s speech. However, after nearly 200 years, what happens behind closed doors at Sandringham is set to change.
Kate Finds Royal Customs “Strange,” but Elizabeth II Maintained Them
The reason? According to The Mirror, Kate finds some of these customs “strange.” The 42-year-old reportedly dislikes exchanging Christmas gifts on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. This tradition, introduced during Queen Victoria’s reign (1819–1901), stems from the family’s German heritage. Queen Elizabeth II maintained it, partly out of respect for her long-reigning ancestors. As a devout Christian, she also adhered to the church’s focus on Christmas Day.
However, Kate wishes to break this long-standing tradition and hold the gift exchange on December 25, aligning with the rest of the United Kingdom. This would allow the royal couple’s children—George (11), Charlotte (9), and Louis (6)—to celebrate like their middle-class friends. A close friend of William and Kate reportedly believes this and possibly other traditions will be abolished once William ascends the throne.
For now, as long as celebrations are held at Sandringham, things will remain the same. But once William assumes the throne as a younger monarch, the festivities will likely become much more relaxed at the Windsors’ rural home, Anmer Hall. Interestingly, Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker-Bowles, has never celebrated Christmas with his stepfather, King Charles (75).
