The Royal Family is just like any other family when it comes to the festive season. They enjoy their own traditions for what happens at Christmas time including attending church and indulging in plenty of food.
Each year the royals head over to Sandringham House in Norfolk for the holidays with the Queen going ahead of the rest of the family around December 19-20.
Once at the residence for the Christmas festivities, the family can expect to be greeted with presents placed on trestle tables ready to be unwrapped, according to former chef Darren McGrady.
Speaking to Cosmopolitan, Darren revealed further insight of the royal’s Christmas traditions.
Due to the Royals being of German descent, they implement a few German traditions into their celebrations such as opening gifts on Christmas Eve after enjoying afternoon tea.
On Christmas Day the family “eats a hardy breakfast before heading off to church,” says Darren.
Upon returning from church, they dig into a huge lunch consisting of salads containing either shrimp or lobster, roasted turkey, and a selection of traditional side dishes such as Brussels sprouts, carrots and parsnips. Following lunch is a dessert of Christmas pudding with brandy butter.
Once they have eating their lunch, the family gathers to watch the Queen’s annual speech before parting ways.
They gather again for an afternoon tea of Christmas fruitcake followed by an evening buffet dinner.
Darren explained that when the family attends the buffet, “15-20 items awaits them. It’s always a buffet with the chefs at the table carving.”
Another tradition upheld by the Queen consists of her allowing the senior chef to toast the family after serving the dinner.
“That’s the only time the chef goes out into the dining room and has a glass of whisky with the Royal Family,” said Darren.
“It’s one of the chef’s favourite traditions.”
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