The royals enjoyed their annual get together at Sandringham this year as usual, though with a few missing members of the family. Once again, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle were absent from the festivities and enjoyed their own Christmas celebration at home in California with kids Princess Lilibet and Prince Archie.
The King's youngest sibling, Prince Andrew, was also absent from Sandringham after joining the family for the past two years. The Duke of York has faced fresh controversy in the past month due to alleged links to a Chinese spy so was set to spend his festive period with ex wife Sarah Ferguson at their Royal Lodge on the Windsor Estate.
But apart from a few tweaks in attendance, members of 'The Firm' are creatures of habit when it comes to celebrating Christmas. The Royal Family may be known for their own unique customs at Christmas time, including opening presents the night before in line with the family's German roots and buying one another novelty gifts.
However, some things remain traditional in the Firm and one of them is enjoying a classic Christmas dinner. In fact, a former palace chief even once branded the family's meal choices over the holiday season as "boring" after he gave an insight into what their festive menu looks like.
Many may assume that being King, Charles and the royals would be chowing down on a huge banquet of everything you could imagine from caviar to oysters on the big day.
However, that could not be further from the truth, as we previously reported.
Formal royal chef Darren McGrady, who originally worked at the Savoy Hotel in London, cooked for the Royal Family for 15 years and served food to everyone from the late Queen to Princess Diana.
While McGrady has several hilarious stories locked away in his memory from his time in the palace kitchens, he fondly remembers Christmas Day, mostly because of how exceptionally normal it was.
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He explained: "It was the same meal every year. They're actually boring when it comes to festivities. They didn't do hams or anything, just traditional turkeys.
"We did three turkeys for the Queen and her family in the royal dining room, one for the children's nursery and then more for the 100 or so staff, so everyone had a Christmas lunch."
McGrady added: “The turkey is served with mashed and roast potatoes, chestnut or sage and onion stuffing, cranberry sauce and bread sauce. Vegetables include brussels sprouts, carrots and roast parsnips.”
For dessert, the royals tuck into a traditional homemade Christmas pudding which is served after the main meal and is “decorated in holly, doused in brandy, and the palace steward would carry it, flaming, into the royal dining room” according to the chef.
A festive tipple is also a must on the big day with McGrady revealing that the late Queen always opted for a classic gin and dubonnet cocktail before she sat down to enjoy her meal.
The former royal chef adds that Her Majesty would also have a glass of the sweet and aromatic German white wine gewürztraminer with her food.
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