Royal family celebrating Christmas IN PICTURES - best of the royal family festive photos
CHRISTMAS is here and all around the world families are waking up to celebrate the special day with loved ones. Here is a look at some of the best Christmas snaps of England’s beloved Royal Family.
Royals: Christmas Day traditions revealed
If there’s one family that knows how to celebrate Christmas, it’s the Royals. The festivities include decadent Christmas trees, a feast to behold and an abundance of gifts. The gang usually spend the season at the Queen’s Sandringham House on her country estate in Norfolk and this year is no different.
When Her Majesty's children were small, many Christmases were celebrated at Windsor Castle, where The Royal Family spends Easter.
But since 1988, when the castle was being rewired, Royal Christmases returned to Sandringham.
The family has not one but two Christmas trees for the holiday.
Queen Charlotte, consort of George III, is thought to have introduced the Christmas tree to the Royal Family.
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The later enthusiasm of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert for the custom helped spread the popularity throughout the country.
Today, The Queen and Members of her family, will usually put the final touches on their Christmas tree.
On Christmas Eve, The Royal Family lay out their presents on trestle tables and will exchange their gifts at teatime.
They are fond of jokey gifts, with Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, once giving Harry a “Grow Your Own Girlfriend” kit!
All members of The Royal Household will receive Christmas presents from The Queen, and Her Majesty will personally hand out presents to some members of The Royal Household at Buckingham Palace and at Windsor Castle.
Continuing the tradition from her father, King George VI and her grandfather, George V – The Queen also gives Christmas puddings to her staff.
About 1,500 Christmas puddings paid for by The Queen are distributed to staff throughout the Palaces, staff in the Court Post Office and Palace police.
Each pudding is accompanied by a greeting card from The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh.
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Each year, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh send around 750 Christmas Cards, which will usually feature a family photo.
The card is signed 'Elizabeth R' and 'Philip' and features their official cyphers. Family, friends, and Members of The Royal Household will likely be the recipients of The Royal Christmas Card, but British and Commonwealth Prime Ministers, Governor-General and High Commissions may also be sent one.
The Duke of Edinburgh has a further 200 cards sent out at Christmas to different regiments and organisations close to him.
On Christmas morning, they all head to the morning church service at St Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, a country church visited by The Queen's Great-Great-Grandmother Queen Victoria, which dates back to the 16th century.