How Prince George, Charlotte and Louis' Xmas Will Differ to US Kids

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Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will get to live out every other kid's dream when they open their presents a day early on the evening of Christmas Eve.

The royal children will be brought into a big room at Sandringham House, their grandfather King Charles III's Norfolk mansion, where presents will be laid out on huge trestle tables covered in white cloth.

And the trio, joined by a host of relatives, will open their presents this evening, a day before their school friends and other children across Britain and America.

Prince George, Charlotte and Louis
Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Prince George attend the 'Together At Christmas' Carol Service at Westminster Abbey, in London, on December 6, 2024. Their royal Christmas will have some key differences compared to American children. Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images

That's because the royal family keep to the German tradition of giving gifts on Christmas Eve, rather than Christmas Day, in honor of their roots.

Each pile of presents will have a place name and they will be standing alongside their mother and father, Prince William and Princess Kate.

As many as 45 royals could take part in the mass opening, with adults and children alike beginning to tear away the wrapping paper all at once.

They will also have a more formal Christmas than many of their peers, complete with black-tie dinners.

And on Christmas morning, they run the gauntlet of public and photographers during their walk to and from church at Sandringham, though in recent years they have appeared excited at the prospect of collecting flowers and gifts from well-wishers.

In 2022, Louis was filmed shouting "Charlotte" as he ran excitedly up to his sister with a bouquet given by a royal fan.

Not everything about the royal Christmas will be different to an ordinary child's experience, however.

George, Charlotte and Louis will likely have a chance to celebrate with cousins, including Mia, 10, Lena, 6, and Lucas Tindall, 3, the children of Princess Anne's daughter Zara and her rugby star husband Mike Tindall.

They may also have the company of their older cousins Savannah, 13, and Isla Phillips, 12, daughters of Peter Philips, Princess Anne's son.

They will not, however, see their biologically closer cousins, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, the two children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

Harry is now estranged from his brother Prince William and, with the Sussexes living in California and rarely visiting Britain, George, Charlotte and Louis do not have a relationship with Archie and Lili.

Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.

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