The Royal Family’s ‘Weird’ Christmas Tradition That Kate Middleton Is More Than Ready to Scrap

4 hours ago

<p id=”par-1_22″>Like millions of people around the world, <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/royal-family/?swcfpc=1″>the royal family</a> has some holiday traditions that have been in place for many years.</p>

<p id=”par-2_64″>The royals’ <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/tag/christmas/”>Christmas</a> Day traditions include greeting well-wishers as they walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. After the service and a brief walkabout with the crowds gathered, the family heads back to the house and prepares for lunch. Following that, everyone settles down and watches the monarch’s pre-recorded annual holiday speech to the U.K. and the Commonwealth. </p>

<p id=”par-3_63″>They then break for afternoon tea prior to dinner which is served buffet style. When the evening meal concludes most of the adults unwind with a cocktail as they wrap up the day. But it’s a tradition held the night before on Christmas Eve that the Princess of Wales (<a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/dont-be-fooled-this-is-what-kate-middleton-was-really-like-in-school.html/”>formerly known as Kate Middleton</a>) isn’t a fan of and wouldn’t mind changing. </p>

<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-1″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Members-of-the-royal-family-leave-traditional-Christmas-Day-service-at-St.-Mary-Magdalene-Church-in-Sandringham-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Members of the royal family leave traditional Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham” class=”wp-image-3742240″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Members of the royal family leave Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham | DANIEL LEAL/AFP via Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-the-royals-long-standing-tradition-that-kate-wouldn-t-mind-axing”>The royals’ long-standing tradition that Kate wouldn’t mind axing</h2>

<p id=”par-5_24″>On Christmas Eve, the family enjoys scrumptious meals and tea as well but they also do something <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/royal-commentator-says-husbands-should-not-prince-william-kate-middleton-public-avoid-tension.html/”>Prince William’s wife</a> reportedly finds odd. </p>

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<p id=”par-6_19″>According to the <a href=”https://www.thedailybeast.com/prince-william-and-kate-plot-middle-class-christmas-coup-on-king-charles/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>Daily Beast</a>‘s sources, Kate thinks the royals’ 200-year-old practice of exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve is “weird.”</p>

<p id=”par-7_79″>Opening gifts the night before goes back to the family’s German ancestry and was set during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. She and Prince Albert were insistent on doing so as a nod to their German heritage. The custom was upheld for centuries as the <a href=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/entertainment/queen-elizabeth-ii-dead-british-monarch-dies-96.html/”>late Queen Elizabeth II</a> didn’t mind it since it kept the focus of Christmas Day on its spiritual meaning, which Christians believe is the birth of Jesus Christ, rather than presents. </p>

<p id=”par-8_24″>That said, the gift-giving on Christmas Eve is something Kate would like to alter as she prefers to open presents on Christmas Day. </p>

<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-2″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kate-Middleton-takes-part-in-gift-wrapping-with-volunteers-as-she-visits-Northside-Center-for-Child-Development-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”Kate Middleton takes part in gift wrapping with volunteers as she visits Northside Center for Child Development” class=”wp-image-3742245″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>Kate Middleton takes part in gift wrapping with volunteers as she visits Northside Center for Child Development | Samir Hussein/Pool/WireImage</figcaption></figure>

<p id=”par-9_35″>As a source close to the Waleses said: “Kate has always found the presents on Christmas Eve thing weird. It is definitely going to be got rid of when they are officially running things. </p>

<p id=”par-10_53″>“I imagine it will continue this year at Sandringham in some shape or form but everything is going to be much more relaxed and have a middle-class flavour at Anmer Hall. You can bet your bottom dollar they will be doing proper presents for each other and the kids there on Christmas Day.”</p>

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<p id=”par-11_26″>The publication added that the Princess of Wales is “keen on ditching the royal family’s traditional Christmas Eve present exchange for a more British Christmas Day celebration.”</p>

<h2 class=”wp-block-heading” id=”h-what-types-of-gifts-the-royals-give-one-another”>What types of gifts the royals give one another</h2>

<figure class=”wp-block-image size-full” id=”emb-3″><img decoding=”async” src=”https://www.cheatsheet.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/11/Kate-Middleton-accepts-a-gift-of-tap-shoes-during-the-Opening-Night-Royal-Gala-performance-1.webp?strip=all&quality=80″ alt=”accepts a gift of tap shoes during the Opening Night Royal Gala performance” class=”wp-image-3742244″><figcaption class=”wp-element-caption”>accepts a gift of tap shoes during the Opening Night Royal Gala performance | David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images</figcaption></figure>

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<p id=”par-12_18″>Another tradition the royals follow is regarding what type of presents they give each other every year. </p>

<p id=”par-13_23″>Former royal chef Darren McGrady revealed that the rule is they do not exchange expensive items, but instead give each other cheap gag gifts.</p>

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<p id=”par-14_45″>“The crazier and the more quirky is what they love,” McGrady told <a href=”https://people.com/royals/royal-family-christmas-at-sandringham-recalled-by-dianas-chef/” target=”_blank” rel=”noreferrer noopener”>People</a>. “[Princess] Diana got upset once because she bought cashmere sweaters and she thought that would be nice, but they don’t do that … It’s not about something really amazing or a Cartier watch.”</p>

<p id=”par-15_46″>Over the years some of the gifts have included a shower cap from Prince Harry to Queen Elizabeth II which read, ‘Ain’t life a b****,” and years before the Duke of Sussex was married Kate gave her brother-in-law a “Grow Your Own Girlfriend” kit. </p>