Royal Family's Christmas plans thrown into chaos by unlikely arrivals

The royals may be the world's most famous family, but their Christmas wish list is surprisingly ordinary: happiness, good health and family time. Queen Elizabeth II cherished having her loved ones around her. "One of the joys of living a long life is watching one's children, then grandchildren, then great-grandchildren, help decorate the Christmas tree," she expressed in her 2015 Christmas message. For King Charles, after a year marred by illness, spending time with his family on his Norfolk estate, Sandringham, will be a much-needed respite.

"The tradition of togetherness at Christmas was a big thing for the late Queen but it's important for Charles, too, especially this year," shares Robert Jobson, author of Catherine, The Princess Of Wales, speaking exclusively to OK!. "It's a lovely chance to see his grandchildren. He'll be surrounded by those he cherishes most, enjoying the chance to eat, drink and be merry with them."

The monarch's marriage to Queen Camilla has made him the head of a blended family that many of us can relate to. He has five grandchildren from his two sons – Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet. Additionally, he has five step-grandchildren from his wife's side – Lola, Eliza, Louis (yes, another one), Gus and Freddy, reports OK!. In the past, Queen Camilla would typically sneak off post-Christmas lunch to enjoy a glass of red with her son, food critic Tom Parker Bowles, and daughter Laura Lopes. However, last year saw the King open his doors to her extended family.

"Throw in the Tindalls' three plus Beatrice and Eugenie's kids, and it will be chaos – a Christmas dominated by children," Royal expert Duncan Larcombe predicts. "But kids are a great healer and a great distraction. After the strain caused by the King and Kate's health battles, the royals will focus on making it a really fun and enchanting Christmas for them. They'll welcome some light relief, and the children will provide that."

In 2022, the Duchess of York was welcomed back into the Royal circle for the first time in three decades, spending her time with the disgraced Duke of York at Wood Farm, a farmhouse on the estate. It must have felt like all her Christmases had come at once when she was invited to join Prince Andrew and her daughters for the annual walk from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church on Christmas Day. "They can't go too mad with the guest list, because they need enough staff at Sandringham to supply the service," says Robert. "It's useful that William and Kate have a home, Anmer Hall, on the estate. It means Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton can be involved."

The Royal festivities will have a noticeable void this year, with significant absences felt deeply within the family. A source shared: "I'm sure it'll play on the King's mind that he's unlikely to see Archie and Lilibet, who are expected to remain in California. The whole Harry scenario will loom large over the royals. He's a very lively character so he's very much missed, but it's difficult for the family to trust him."

Recalling past adaptations, the late Queen had her share of Christmas location changes—opting for Windsor Castle when it became handy in the 60s, returning there due to renovations in 1988, and during the pandemic, she celebrated her last Christmas with Prince Philip at Windsor in 2020.

As for King Charles, his new reign doesn't necessarily mean breaking with all traditions; Robert notes, "nothing dramatic has changed". Regular Royal customs persist: the distribution of official Christmas cards, charity events, festive decorations at palaces, traditional carol singing, and the anticipated pre-Christmas luncheon that sees royals from all ranks gather for a grand meal, which was once held at Buckingham Palace and now at Windsor Castle.

And testament to his devout nature, as Prince Harry reveals his father's nightly prayers, the King is set to attend church come Christmas Eve. Royal expert Robert has spilled the beans on how the Royal Family's Christmas traditions have evolved under King Charles. "They still open the presents on Christmas Eve, attend the church service and tuck into a big lunch before watching the King's speech as a family," he reveals.

"But Charles is less demanding of his guests than his parents were. He understands people have other commitments and doesn't expect them to hang around for the full three days. Camilla will be in charge of hosting. She'll make sure the tree is decorated just the way he likes it."

Meanwhile, Duncan notes some old customs are no longer in vogue: "In the past, female guests, like Kate, were required to pack up to seven different outfits," but now, "That doesn't happen any more – the dress code is far more relaxed," he confirms. A significant shift is the King's departure date. Unlike his mother who stayed until February to commemorate her father's death, the King and Queen prefer to retreat to Balmoral.

This will be the third Christmas without the late Queen and the fourth without the larger-than-life Duke of Edinburgh. "Sandringham brings back lovely memories of them. They'll both be terribly missed and very much in the family's prayers," shares Ingrid Seward, Royal commentator and author of My Mother And I. "I imagine the King will also take a moment to reflect on the wonderful Christmases he spent at Windsor Castle when he was George's age. All his cousins would come to stay and it was magical for them."

Nowadays, the monarch's strong work ethic is likely to influence his Christmas. "The King works really, really hard," reveals his former butler Grant Harrold. "Although Christmas Day is a holiday, I can assure you he'll be working on and off, like the late Queen used to. He doesn't stop thinking about work."

It's certain that King Charles' Christmas message will echo many of the values and traditions dear to him: duty, religion, peace and, naturally, family. As he concludes a sombre year and embarks on a new one, we'll all be toasting to a happier and healthier 2025.

In this exclusive edition of OK!, we invite you to delve into the magic and grandeur of a Windsor Christmas – from their shopping secrets and preferred dishes, to their fashion picks and the behind-the-scenes fun at Sandringham. We also take a moment to reflect on one of the most challenging years in recent Royal history, including health issues faced by the King and Princess of Wales, and reminisce about some of our favourite festive Royal moments over the years....