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Why Prince William and Duchess Kate will no longer split Christmas between their families

Breaking tradition. - by Grace Back
  • 21 Dec 2018

Since their 2011 wedding, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have always made an effort to swap where they spend Christmas each year. But, it's been reported that Prince William and Kate Middleton will no longer switch off between spending Christmas with the royals and the Middleton family.

An insider told Us Weekly, “Moving forward, Kate and William will continue to do Sandringham every Christmas Eve and Day as opposed to alternating like they used to,” adding the pair will “visit the Middleton in Berkshire later in the festive season.”

“That’s the plan this year too,” the insider continues. “With the queen and Philip’s advancing ages, skipping years isn’t an option anymore.”

kate middleton
Getty

Queen Elizabeth celebrated her 92nd birthday this year, while Prince Philip celebrated his 97th. 

The Duke of Edinburgh underwent hip replacement surgery that forced him to skip the family's Easter service in April. 

He did, however, attend his grandson Prince Harry's May 19 wedding to Meghan Markle. 

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will attend Christmas at Sandringham, alongside other members of the Royal Family.

Despite reports Meghan's mother Doria Ragland would also attend, it's been revealed she was not formally invited. 

“She is of course welcome at Sandringham,” a source previously told Us. “But she wasn’t formally invited for this Christmas.”

doria ragland
Getty

It is very unusual for non-members of the Royal Family to join the Queen for Christmas Day, which is why Meghan's holiday debut with Harry last year before her wedding to Harry was incredibly rare. 

On Dec. 20. the Queen has arrived in Norfolk by train to begin her Christmas break, travelling without the Duke of Edinburgh.

She caught the 10.42am Great Northern service from King’s Cross station in London and arrived at platform two in King’s Lynn on time, at 12.31pm.

Joe Giddens/PA
Joe Giddens/PA

Guarded from the cold by a brown coat, black gloves and headscarf, the Queen stepped from the front carriage of the train onto the platform.

She briefly mingled with passengers as she was escorted through a side exit to a waiting Range Rover.

Sandringham, the Queen’s private estate in Norfolk, is a 30-minute drive from King’s Lynn.

Passenger Phil Kay, 62, who boarded the train at Downham Market, said he did not know the Queen was on board until he arrived at King’s Lynn and saw police and photographers on the platform.

“I didn’t see her, well, not that we went up that end of the train but it’s marvellous isn’t it?” he said. “I think it’s great that she does (travel by train).

“It just makes her more acceptable to the people doing things like that.”

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Grace Back
Grace is the Digital Content Editor at New Idea. Grace is a lifestyle junkie who has previously interned at Dolly, Stellar and marie claire, as well having written in the fashion and beauty sections at Finder.com.au. When not working, you can find Grace heading for the slopes, playing with her pup or stuck in a seemingly endless Instagram scroll.

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Watch 1:09

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Kate Middleton discusses 'baby number four'

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{headline}

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Is this PROOF Kate and William will have 4th baby?

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{headline}

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Sarah Ferguson reveals true feelings about Kate Middleton in intimate interview

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Kensington Palace just confirmed some EXCITING news about Prince George and Princess Charlotte

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