The upcoming holiday season will mark the first Christmas since beloved Queen Elizabeth passed away.
But her son, King Charles will honour her memory by continuing her favourite Christmas tradition: spending the holiday at Sandringham, the much-loved country retreat of the royal family located in Norfolk.
The Queen loved spending Christmas at Sandringham and Charles is keeping the tradition alive! (Image: Getty)
Throughout her life, the Queen would take the train from London to Norfolk, so she could spend December through to February at Sandringham. She would then celebrate, with the royal family, both Christmas and the anniversary of her ascension (February 6) to the throne while there.
Sadly, for the last two years of her life, Queen Elizabeth couldn’t go to Sandringham for Christmas due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2020, she stayed at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip and in 2021, she and Philip were joined at Windsor Castle by Charles and Camilla.
It’s likely that Christmas this year will be a big royal family affair now that there are no longer any COVID restrictions in place in the UK. Currently, it’s all but confirmed that Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William and his wife, Princess Catherine will join Charles and Camilla at Sandringham.
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However, reportedly, Prince Harry and his wife, Meghan Markle will not be joining the royal family for Christmas and will instead spend the holiday in the US.
Traditionally, the royal family goes to St. Mary Magdalene church on Christmas Day for mass. They then greet fans after the service, before heading back to Sandringham for a classic Christmas meal.
We can only hope that Charles makes sure that Sandringham is decorated as beautifully as Windsor Castle, which recently had its 2022 Christmas decorations unveiled by the Royal Collection Trust.
Windsor Castle has been decorated beautifully for Christmas 2022. (Image: Getty)
The Grand Staircase of the castle’s State Apartments have been adorned with garlands while festive foliage and wreaths have been fastened to gates and lampposts throughout the castle’s grounds.
And in St George’s Hall lies the heart of Windsor Castle’s Christmas decor: a 20-foot Nordmann Fir tree which is decorated with hundreds of beautiful, glittering ornaments and twinkling fairy lights.
Visitors will be able to tour the holiday displays throughout Windsor Castle and see all the wonderful decorations for themselves.
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But those who visit the royal family’s ancestral home on December 8, 9 and 12, will be in for an extra special treat as carolers are set to perform in St George’s Hall (where Prince Harry and Meghan Markle had their wedding reception).
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