This is what the British royal family eats on Christmas Day - News + Articles

Dec 11, 2024

Heavy is the head that wears the crown, so they say.

Christmas is a time of year swarming with traditions. Particularly so for the British royal family who, unsurprisingly, follow a rigid set of festive-focused customs each and every year. King Chuck and Co. traditionally spend Christmas and New Year at Sandringham House in Norfolk, and much like the rest of us, they indulge in a family-focused lunchtime feast and pay a visit to church. However, they also embrace a set of seriously quirky traditions during their annual celebrations. Let’s take a peek behind the majestic curtain

Novelty gifts are prized the most

You’d think with all that money at their disposal, everyone would be expecting to find a flash car or fine piece of jewellery under the tree, but for this kingly crew, it’s the unconventional gifts that garner most praise. Former royal chef Darren McGrady once shared with People magazine that, “The crazier and the more quirky is what they love. It’s not about something really amazing or a Cartier watch.”

The royal residence, Sandringham House in Norfolk, with a bright green manicured lawn in the foreground and a cloudy blue sky above the castle

Men and women dine separately to start the day

For this lot, Christmas breakfast is not a time to dine with the family, but solely your own gender – male and female royals are separated before the mid-morning service on December 25. How quaint. Continues McGrady; “On Christmas Day, the ladies generally opt for a light breakfast of sliced fruit, half a grapefruit, toast and coffee delivered to their rooms. Male royals, meanwhile, come downstairs to the dining room for a hearty breakfast at 8:30am with eggs, bacon and mushrooms, kippers and grilled kidneys, to set them up for the 11am church service at St Mary Magdalene.” Children are also not permitted to sit with the adults at Christmas lunch until they are old enough to master the art of ‘polite conversation’.

A weigh-in both before and after eating Christmas lunch

Arguably the strangest royal Christmas tradition, all family members and guests are weighed before and after their festive feast. It’s thought that if you’ve gained a few pounds during the event, you’ve truly enjoyed the meal. While the current monarchs uphold this tradition (and you may have spied it in the movie Spencer) it’s not them who dreamt it up – it was introduced in the 1900s by King Edward VII, who thought it would be a handy way to find out if his guests had really had a good time. One does not just ask, you see.

Prince William and Kate Middleton carrying pizza boxes

There’s no TV, and no board games

Forget about kicking back and relaxing with a post-feed viewing of Love Actually – the British royal family is banned from watching television on Christmas Day (ironically, including the King’s Christmas speech). Supposedly this rule ensures that the family spends quality time in each other’s company rather than on screens. Unfortunately for board-game lovers, these are forbidden as well (apparently the late Queen thought they were too ‘vicious’). Instead, the royals play charades or card games.

Black tie is a non-negotiable

Wardrobe changes and the royals go hand in hand, and Christmas is no exception. With so many activities on the itinerary, a whole wardrobe-load of appropriate outfits – from a breakfast ensemble to a shooting outfit – are required over the holiday period. Not forgetting about dinner at Sandringham, which always demands black tie.