Christmas & the Royals

[Wheelerdeeler]

When Charles is King, will he create his own Christmas traditions?

Presumably they won't all still trot off to Sandringham? Especially his nieces and nephews.....

Sandringham is the family home, the one they actually own and they've held winter court there for a long time. William lives in and spends a lot of time at Anmer down the road, including at Christmas and I'm not sure it will change. Who knows though?

Now Beatrice and Eugenie have kids and husbands I can’t imagine they’ll go every year even before Charles is king. I assume Peter and Zara don’t always go either, they must spend some christmases with their spouse’s family (or used to, in peter’s case).

The grandchildren of the monarch have if they wished always alternated with in-laws arrangements once they are married,

It was only news when the Cambridges did it (2016)

HMQ gathered her mother, her children, her sibling and her children, and had a family Christmas. Charles may well do similar, or he might host a big party in London (as the Queen does for wider family)

I think eugenie & Beatrice were there every year. Poor fergie

Why poor Fergie?

Fergie wasn't invited post divorce and used to stay in a lodge in the grounds so she could see her own kids at Christmas

"No, Lilibet, not under the same roof as me. I made it clear at Balmoral that after that toe-sucking picture she would never spend another night under the same roof as me. Yes, all right, we'll invite her to stay on the estate, then the girls can see her. Yes, you can go over and have tea with her if you want, but just tell me, Lilibet, how many families in this country ask the divorced daughter-in-law to come and snuggle up round the Christmas table. How embarrassing would that be? No, darling, I'm not raising my voice, and now I'm going out with the estate manager. See you at tea-time."

Harry and Meghan have said no thanks to coming for Christmas.

@upinaballoon

"No, Lilibet, not under the same roof as me. I made it clear at Balmoral that after that __ toe-sucking picture she would never spend another night under the same roof as me. Yes, all right, we'll invite her to stay on the estate, then the girls can see her. Yes, you can go over and have tea with her if you want, but just tell me, Lilibet, how many families in this country ask the divorced daughter-in-law to come and snuggle up round the Christmas table. How embarrassing would that be? No, darling, I'm not raising my voice, and now I'm going out with the estate manager. See you at tea-time."

I can just imagine the DoE saying that to HMQ too, is that real?

*HeadLikeAFO", no it's not real, it's what I imagined him saying. We have long been told that she is head of the country but he was head of the family. Somewhere along the way of papers and programmes I have heard that she once said, "Don't all husbands swear?"
I think Fergie was staying at Balmoral when the toe-sucking pictures appeared in the morning papers and she was either asked or told to go, and she did. I can't remember whether she and Andrew were divorced at that point, maybe not.
Sandringham House is not huge. I actually think that Fergie staying on the estate was a good compromise. It allowed her and the girls to see one another without F actually being in the House.
I know there are some families who manage divorces very well and maybe there are some where divorced Mum and Dad are at the same dinner table for Christmas, but not many.

Can you imagine the reactions of many of the fathers-in-law in this country to waking up one morning to find a pic of the topless d-in-l having her toes sucked on the front page of the national/local paper?
(Also, I was influenced by a book I read recently.)

I think there are some Royal Family traditions and some Queen Elizabeth traditions. I’d expect things to change to some extent with Charles but he will remember more than 70 years of doing things predominantly as they are now, so might well largely continue with it.

Poor Queen, her first Christmas without Philip. I hope she's OK.

@Aspiringmatriarch

Poor Queen, her first Christmas without Philip. I hope she's OK.

I do feel for her but she is blessed with a big loving family, unlike many her age.

After last Christmas, hopefully she'll have a better one this year. New babies and members of the family will hopefully keep her distracted from her husband's passing.

I read that Prince Louis will be attended church this year.

Fergie’s toe sucking incident seems tame now compared to subsequent royal behaviour. She got punished while other members of that family have been equally cringesome and potentially criminal in their behaviour

She's Andrew's ex wife though. Why should she be invited?

I read that Prince Louis will be attended church this year.

Why couldn't he attend in previous years?

@PreparationPreparationPrep

I read that Prince Louis will be attended church this year.

Why couldn't he attend in previous years?

He was considered too young. The RF don't seem to take infants and toddlers to regular Sunday services. Perhaps they prefer to wait until there's a good chance that they can sit through the service quietly.

And of course are ready to face the barrage of press outside who are there to get the Christmas Day pix

Oh I see - I would have thought Xmas day service would be nice to bring children and I couldn't think why not as there would be plenty of hands to look after him.
But agree press photographers might be a bit too much as they walk from the entrance to the church don't they.

@PickupaPenguin8 for the sake of the kids?
I always felt sorry for Sarah that she never spent one Christmas dinner with her girls. That would have really upset me as a mum.

I’m sure she could have had them herself. I can’t see Andrew disagreeing.

Could she? I am not sure if it would have been allowed.

She could do whatever she wanted!!

Who gives a fuck!

@TheElvishQueen how do you know that?
Many couples have contact arrangements set by courts when divorced including who they spend Christmas Day with. We have no idea if Sarah had any choice or not.