9 Royal Family Holiday Traditions You Probably Didn't Know About
’Tis the season to be jolly and catch up on all our favorite royal family traditions. While we've been spending the lead-up to Christmas scoping out pudding recipes and rare shots of royal family Christmas cards, we're also getting into the holiday spirit by rounding up all of the annual royal traditions…from a special Christmas Day lunch to games of charades.
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1. The Queen Personally Hand Signs Her Christmas Cards
Get this: Queen Elizabeth personally signs 800+ Christmas cards that go out to everyone from politicians to heads of state, according to the royal family’s website. That’s enough to give anyone a hand cramp, which is why the queen plays it smart: Every year, she starts the process of signing the cards in August, while on holiday at Balmoral. Tradition, but also kind of genius, right?
2. The Queen Has Two Different Trees at Sandringham
Sure, Buckingham Palace gets totally decked out for Christmas, former royal chef Darren McGrady said in an interview with Good Housekeeping. But at Sandringham—the private residence where the queen celebrates the holiday with her family—the royals set up just two trees. One is a large Christmas tree that the kids continue to decorate on Christmas Eve, while the other is a silver artificial tree that has been in the family for more than 30 years, McGrady says.
3. There Are Christmas Parties Galore, but Mainly for the Charities They Support
#Tbt to Kate Middleton and Prince William reacting to fake snow as they honored the military and their families at 2018’s holiday luncheon. It’s a royal tradition to host Christmas festivities on behalf of the causes they hold near and dear, which means everyone will be doing the same.
4. There’s Also the Queen’s Special Week-Before-Christmas Lunch
Before they all pack up and head to Sandringham every year, Queen Elizabeth invites her extended family over for a holiday lunch at Buckingham Palace, kids included.
5. The Night Before Christmas, the Queen Hosts a Black-Tie Dinner
This may be a no-go thanks to the pandemic. But she usually serves a signature cocktail, called the ZaZa, which is made up of ¾ ounces of Dubonnet, 1 ½ ounces of gin and is elegantly garnished with a lemon twist.
6. The Entire Family Opens Their Presents Early
Opening gifts on Christmas Eve is a way to honor their German heritage, McGrady said in an interview with People. And for the record, they favor gag gifts over anything extravagant, McGrady added.
7. They Celebrate Christmas Morning Together at Church
The queen actually attends two services that morning at St. Mary Magdalene Church. The first one she attends privately, but immediately after she is joined by the entire royal family for a second service—a Christmas tradition that allows them to greet well-wishers along the walk.
8. The Family Enjoys a Decadent Turkey Lunch
Royals, they’re just like us! Yep, McGrady explained that the Christmas lunch typically includes a roast turkey, a salad with shrimp or lobster, and all the traditional fixings—parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts and more.
9. They Round Out Christmas Day with a Friendly Game of Charades
According to Express, Christmas Day is rounded out with games, which typically include charades because it is a favorite of the queen's. Apparently, Her Royal Majesty is even an “excellent mimic, particularly of former Prime Ministers and US Presidents she has known through the years.”
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RELATED: The Best Royal Family Holiday Cards Through the Years
