Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year. It is a time of expressing kindness, gratitude, and love, and time to be thankful for everything we have.
Like every year, the British Royal family spent the holiday at Sandringham.
The Prince and Princess of Wales are always keen on celebrating the most magical day of the year with the rest of the family. This is because they want to give their three children a yearly family tradition.
“It’s important to them that their kids share childhood traditions like their school pals,” an insider told Us Weekly in 2018.
“They’re going all-out to make it extra special.”
They, however, always attend the formal dinner on Christmas Eve, often including Norfolk shrimp and lamb.
The morning, as per tradition, is reserved for a classic English breakfast consisting of eggs, sausages, bacon, and beans.
Following the traditional visit to St Mary Magdalene Church, the royals have their Christmas lunch, the main course of which being a roast turkey.
As per US Weekly, the family members also have upheld Henry VII’s tradition of “weighing in before and after Christmas lunch.”
At 3 p.m., the family sits down to watch the annual Christmas speech on television. Over the years, late Queen Elizabeth’s annual speech was a highlight for many, but as of last year, it is the new head of the monarchy, King Charles, who is giving a speech. In the address, he spoke of faith and compassion and thanked the “selfless army” of volunteers.
“Over this past year, my heart has been warmed by countless examples of the imaginative ways in which people are caring for one another – going the extra mile to help those around them simply because they know it is the right thing to do: at work and at home; within and across communities,” Charles said in his Christmas speech.
“My wife and I were delighted when hundreds of representatives of that selfless army of people – volunteers who serve their communities in so many ways and with such distinction – were able to join us in Westminster Abbey for the coronation earlier this year.”
He added: “They are an essential backbone of our society. Their presence meant so much to us both and emphasized the meaning of coronation itself: above all, a call to us all to serve one another, to love and care for all.”
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The King also spoke of the many conflicts taking place around the world and wished for peace in the year to come.
“At a time of increasingly tragic conflict around the world, I pray that we can also do all in our power to protect each other. The words of Jesus seem more than ever relevant: ‘Do to others as you would have them do to you. Such values are universal, drawing together our Abrahamic family of religions and other belief systems across the Commonwealth and wider world,” he said.
“They remind us to imagine ourselves in the shoes of our neighbors and to seek their good as we would our own. So on this Christmas Day, my heart and my thanks go to all who are serving one another; all who are caring for our common home; and all who see and seek the good of others, not least the friend we do not yet know. In this way, we bring out the best in ourselves. I wish you a Christmas of ‘peace on Earth and goodwill to all’, today and always.”
Watching the royals take a trip to St. Mary Magdalene Church is a delight for many.
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK – DECEMBER 25: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales attend the Christmas Morning Service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Samir Hussein/WireImage)
The truth is that when it comes to the British royal family, it’s all about tradition. There are plenty of rules which date back centuries, and although most of them seemed quite reasonable back in the day, they are found rather awkward nowadays. Well, despite that, royals still follow them strictly.
One of those rules is related to the way they dress. From gloves, to military uniforms, and skirts instead of jeans, to tiaras and lavish jewelry, the outfits worn by the royals have fascinated many over the years.
We are certain everyone remembers late Queen Elizabeth’s rainbow coats and hats, which are there for a reason. According to Diana Mather, a scholar of English etiquette, wearing hats is a result of an old tradition prohibiting women from showing their hair.
Some of the things which are ‘forbidden’ is the colored nail polish and wearing jeans.
This year, what caught everyone’s attention was the choice of clothes for young Prince Louis.
Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images
When it comes to the youngest members of the royal family, there is this rule which states that young boys are only allowed to wear shorts, no matter the weather conditions. If you wonder why, etiquette expert William Hanson has the answer. According to him, this tradition dates back to the 16th century.
“It’s a very English thing to dress a young boy in shorts,” he told Harper’s Bazaar. “Trousers are for older boys and men, whereas shorts on young boys is one of those silent class markers that we have in England.”
“This was the first time we saw his little brother Louis wear a blazer and tie in public, and the fact that the Princess of Wales chose sky blue rather than navy made the outfit more fun and age-appropriate,” British children’s wear designer Rachel Riley told People Magazine.
“He also matched perfectly with his mother and sister, something which he can still do as the youngest sibling.”
SANDRINGHAM, NORFOLK – DECEMBER 25: Prince Louis of Wales attends the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25, 2023 in Sandringham, Norfolk. (Photo by Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images)
What also caught the attention of the public when it comes to the young prince was his evident impatience while the entire royal family was on their way to the church. Louis was holding hands with his father and his second cousin Mia Tindall.
According to body language expert Judi James, Louis was excited and impatient but his dad did something to calm him down.
“Louis, like most small children on Christmas morning, looked excited but also impatient,” James said.
“Zara’s daughter had been given the job of anchoring his left hand while William held onto his right, and even then, he looked so excited he was pulling on his dad’s arm to get into the service.
“William placed a cupped hand on the back of Louis’s head in a gesture of affection but also of calming a child down. But even as he waited to do the greeting rituals with the clergy, Louis crossed one lower leg over the other as though keen to get launched into his Christmas Day.”
This is certainly not the first time Prince Louis to steal the show. During the Trooping the Colour, he was spotted either holding in a sneeze, trying not to openly laugh, or simply reacting to a bad smell.
“When Prince Louis misbehaved at the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee, for example, by sticking his tongue out at his mother, Kate’s reaction was praised by teams of expert commentators,” author Tom Quinn wrote in his book Gilded Youth: An Intimate History of Growing Up In The Royal Family.
LONDON, ENGLAND – JUNE 17: Prince George of Wales, Princess Charlotte of Wales and Prince Louis of Wales ride in a horse drawn carriage with Catherine, Princess of Wales and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour at Horse Guards Parade on June 17, 2023 in London, England. Trooping the Colour is a traditional parade held to mark the British Sovereign’s official birthday. It will be the first Trooping the Colour held for King Charles III since he ascended to the throne. (Photo by Rob Pinney/Getty Images)
Although the three of them are still young to be able to understand the real meaning of being royals, at least Louis, they are still expected to follow royal rules and traditions.
During the Trooping the Colour carriage ride, Kate tried calming her children down by an eight-word order: “Do not look behind whilst on the coach.” As William was on horseback, it was Kate who had to govern the children solo.
“She beamed with pride when Louis started miming drumming along with the band in the carriage,” body language expert Judy James said. “Talking to her children, there were a couple of gestures of what looked like guidance about when to wave.
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“There was also a spreading gesture of both hands that would normally mean quite a severe message of when to stop or what not to do, too,” the body language expert added.
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