Royal family's quirky Christmas traditions - from dinner weigh-ins to cheeky gifts
Christmas at Sandringham is full of tradition that blends fun and formality.
The royal family's quirky Christmas traditions
The British royal family is renowned for its traditions, and Christmas is no exception. With news emerging that Prince Harry has imposed a new rule on his children for the festive season, we look back at some of the Christmas traditions that royal family members, staff personnel, and experts have discussed and revealed over the years.
Dinner weigh-in
Guests arriving at Sandringham for dinner are reportedly asked to sit on a set of antique scales before and after the meal, in a tradition that dates back to King Edward VII - who, at the time, wanted to ensure that all of his guests had been "well fed".
More recently, Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty Magazine and a royal commentator, also confirmed the claims, stating it was still happening in 2018.
Gifts free-for-all
In one of their most candid and casual publicly known practices, the members of the royal family make a point of giving each other the most inexpensive, cheeky gifts possible.
Prince Harry described the experience in his memoir Spare as a noisy "free-for-all" where everyone tears into piles of presents at once - a custom rooted in their German heritage.
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Black-tie dinner
After the evening's gift exchange, the family members ditch all remnants of chaos and get ready for a black-tie dinner event on Christmas Eve.
It's, again, German tradition to have the season's main meal on the 24th, as opposed to the English tradition of having it on the 25th.
Football match
According to online sources, William and Harry maintained a tradition of playing football on the Sandringham Estate with workers and friends on the 24th.
A source even added that Prince Harry's team used to wear Arsenal's colours, while Prince William's squad would play in Aston Villa socks.
Church service
Like many families, the royal family begins Christmas Day by attending church. In their case, attendance is reportedly mandatory at St Mary Magdalene Church, around which crowds gather hours in advance to watch the family walk together.
Christmas trees
The Windsors don't stop at one tree per year; instead, they typically set up three fir trees in the Marble Hall and both a main tree and an artificial silver one in Sandringham, according to former royal chef Darren McGrady.
It is also said that the youngest members of the family decorate the trees, which have sported corgi-themed ornaments at least once in the past.
Charades after lunch
In perhaps their most renowned Christmas tradition, the Windsors gather after lunch on the 25th for a game of charades.
A staple of royal Christmas, the game was enjoyed by Queen Elizabeth II and used as a post-lunch unwinding activity for the clan.
