Royal pre-Christmas lunch secret details - guestlist to why Prince Louis eats separately

King Charles is set to host a traditional Christmas lunch for his extended family at Buckingham Palace today - and guest Mike Tindall once lifted the lid what happens inside the private event, especially when it comes to the royal kids

The royals will officially kick-off their traditional Christmas celebrations today with a very special event.

Before they head to Sandringham for the big day next week, the Firm also enjoys a huge Christmas lunch and get-together in the run-up to December 25 itself. Each year they usually get together in the week before Christmas, with a whopping 70 people normally invited to the bash.

For the past two years, King Charles has held the party at Windsor Castle but it is expected to return to Buckingham Palace today, where the late Queen nearly always held the lunch. The event is private so no pictures are released from inside, however Mike Tindall, who is married to the King's niece Zara Tindall, once previously dished on the event.

And even though children such as Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis are invited to the event, he revealed they don't even sit with the other royals - and instead, they have their own room with the other royal kids, where they enjoy their Christmas meal. In 2019, former rugby player Mike spoke about the celebrations on his rugby podcast, and shared a few exciting details. His co-stars James Haskell and Alex Payne asked which of the seven tables he sat at.

They asked: "Do you find yourself upgrading every year and getting closer to the main table or are you off out the back? Is there a promotion and relegation based on the year's performance? Because if there is I imagine you're pretty much sitting on the right-hand side of Her Majesty." Mike stayed quiet throughout the jokes, but later added: "I was on Prince Charles's table, it was lovely."

He then divulged that the royal little ones, including his children Mia, Lena and Lucas, have their own table in a separate room away from the adults. He said: "This is the family lunch, there were seven tables so there must have been about 70 of us there. The kiddies have their own little one in a different room."

However, one royal who isn't expected to be at the bash today is Prince Andrew. The beleaguered royal will no longer join the party amid the ongoing furore over his relationship with alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo. Andrew has decided to stay away from the festivities this year in light of his latest scandal. According to the Daily Mail, it was Andrew's ex-wife Sarah Ferguson who advised him to keep a low-profile and stay away from the Palace soiree.

Furthermore, the former couple have decided to remain at their home in Royal Lodge on Christmas Day, rather than travel to Sandringham with the rest of the family, to avoid further embarrassing the King.

Much has changed for Andrew and Sarah in the past 12 months. Last Christmas, along with their two daughters, they were invited to Sandringham for the festive celebrations and took part in the royal family's traditional morning walk to church. It was all the more poignant for Sarah given that it was the first time she had been invited since 1991. Many saw it as a return to the royal fold for the 65-year-old.

Despite the latest drama surrounding her ex-husband, Sarah remains incredibly loyal to Andrew. In a new interview with the Times, which took part "before recent revelations about Andrew" but published after the event, she gushed about her love for the Prince.

"I was totally and utterly in love with Andrew. I would do it all over again, 100 per cent. He's the best, a great man with a great heart, and kind. Our wedding was the best day of my life. But I gave up my anonymity that day. I was able to because love conquers all. It's still with us today. I won't let him down. He supports me as much as I support him. He's supported me through thick and thin, not just marriage or divorce. We agree on the three Cs — communication, compromise, compassion."