Sandringham on Christmas Day

[Rainbowglassbowl]

Have you been to the Sandringham church on Christmas Day to watch the Royal procession? If so, is it invite only or can anyone go?

My son’s in laws are from the USA and love the Royal Family. They are coming over to the U.K. for Christmas to see their DD/SIL and, as we don’t live too far from Sandringham, I think they would like to go and soak up the atmosphere. It would be a once in a lifetime moment for them.

If anyone has been, what’s the protocol? Can we park in the car park and wander over or do we need special permits or something?

TIA.

Can't help OP, but I've definitely seen a thread on this before. If you advance search you should find it.

Yes, there was a thread last year. It was completely insane, but had plenty of useful information about parking, timings etc.

Thank you! I will look for it.

Unless everything has changed from usual:

No, you don't need a special invitation. You can park in the car park. It might even be free to park that day. They don't process. They walk down from the House a few minutes before 11 a.m. The late Queen used to come by car but the others are probably all fit enough to do the walk.
You have to go in through one entrance. You might have to queue up and you have to be frisked and probably have your bag inspected.
There are loos on the site, and even if the restaurant is closed I think the sandwich shop would be open, but you could always take a sandwich and a flask, in case. The ordinary shop might be open for a while.
I cannot advise you what time to be there, in order to get near to the fence, on the front row, as it were. The spectators might be four or five deep, many holding up phones to take photos.
The service inside the church will be Mattins - Morning Prayer. There will probably be a tannoy which broadcasts it outside, but many people won't realise that or be near enough to hear. Churchwardens or church folk might give out a few hymn sheets to people near the church, so that they can join in with the singing.
After the service, roughly 11.45, they come out and have more time as they walk back, so some of them stop and talk to the members of the crowd. I knew a woman who went every year. Her husband took her. She said that having flowers or a child or being in a wheelchair helped to get noticed.

When I went I didn't see anyone bowing or cutseying or grovelling or fawning or tugging their forelocks or shouting out, "You're better than I am."

If it's likely to be a bit muddy there, wear appropriate footwear. Take the dogs as well. Afterwards, go to Hunstanton and paddle in the sea.

If anyone in the family likes a bit of metalwork, stop and gaze for a moment at the big black gates.

Notice that the War Memorial names the men who fell in WW1 or possibly both wars but there is nothing which says that the memorial was built 'to the Glory of God and in remembrance of....'. I had a friend who used to be furious about war memorials which started with the words 'to the Glory of God' so that is why I noticed the Sandringham estate one.

but why did you want to watch a bunch of strangers walk to church?
By showing up you ARE forelock tugging

I doubt your relatives are the only people from the US who love the Royal Family.

Hope the advice you have read helps and that they enjoy the opportunity. Probably you'll have to explain who is who for some of those lower in line to the throne, suggest if you are there you do it afterwards.

I doubt your relatives are the only people from the US who love the Royal Family.

What’s that got to do it?

lol

OK

Really, people don’t curtsy if the king shakes their hand? That really surprises me, I haven’t noticed that when it’s shown on the news.

I have noticed some of the behaviour by the crowd towards the children that makes me quite uncomfortable, and that seems to have made them uncomfortable: I would think carefully before attending and adding to that.

Obviously pointing out that the place will be swarming with crazy Americans and you may not even get close.

You never know. If they're really lucky they may even get to explain to a royal why they're there:

https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/royals/prince-andrew-caught-camera-asking-31819969

It always looks fairly calm whenever I watch coverage of it on TV. Not massive amounts of people, probably due to the location and timing. It seems like a big effort to go to though. Bit I guess it's a perfect start to Christmas.

I think they’d rather be part of the atmosphere rather than elbow their way to the front.

If you live close, that sounds lovely and like something they would always remember. Please come back and post how you get on.

Sandringham House is open lots of days in the year. When I was young (1950s) the cafe and shop weren't there, nor a car park. People did go there, though, to look at the rhodedendrons in the spring, and because there was a wide grass verge where you could pull the car up and have a picnic. In the 50s and 60s, when some people had cars but not all, and there weren't umpteen other things to do on a Sunday, people would have a drive over there and eat the picnics they'd taken with them and then go on to one of the several sea-side places on the Norfolk coast. So there will be locallish people who will have pleasant memories of Sandringham without ever having seen any member of the RF there.
A policeman who was on duty at Sandringham on Christmas morning, a few years back, was heard to say that it was a lot nicer than the sort of crowd control where he would be spat in the face.

I'd rather go to Sandringham than the upcoming inaugeration. 😁

@BemusedAmerican I went to Clinton's second inauguration. Nothing to do with my opinion of his politics (or personal behaviour!). Just was working in Philly and fancied experiencing a little local colour. Was truly weird standing in a crowd of about 100,000 (from what I remember) all reciting the Pledge of allegiance in unison... and being the only person in sight not joining in 😂

Not that anyone seemed to notice!

I also went to mass Easter Sunday at San Marco when on holiday in Venice, without being a Catholic!

Shocking behaviour...

@Baital I'm surprised so many people know the Pledge. It isn't taught in school anymore.

I am the only person I know capable of singing "The Star-Spangled Banner". I even know all the lyrics.

I've gone to Episcopal masses for the carols and I was raised Roman Catholic.

I'm surprised so many people know the Pledge. It isn't taught in school anymore

When did that stop?!

Films and shows with sweet faced yet serious kids slapping their ickle chests with a tiny fist seem to have long been a thing here 😐

This was back in 1995? 1996? And it was grown adults so would have been in school prior to 1980ish.

But I didn't know it wasn't recited in schools these days!

Anyway, the point being, it is (amazingly!) possible to go along to something - such as Sandringham church on Christmas day - just to experience a traditional ritual.

No forelock tugging - or reciting Pledges of Allegiance - required.

but WHY? Why would you wait around to see a bunch of strangers walk into church?