According to several reports out of the UK, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will forgo their royal celebrations with The Queen at Sandringham to spend time with the Middleton clan on Christmas day.
Prince William and Catherine will take their two kids, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, to their grandparents Michael and Carole’s stunning Bucklebury mansion in Berkshire.
One friend explained that the young parents wanted their little ones to spend quality time with Kate’s folks.
“The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children will have a private Christmas day with the Middleton family,” a source told HELLO!.
This will be the first Christmas George and Charlotte get to enjoy at the Middletons, and the timing couldn’t be better.
The festivities are that much more exciting considering their aunt, Pippa Middleton, is preparing to tie the knot to James Matthews next year.
Prince George will still see his Gan-Gan
Christmas with the Middletons is a vastly different affair to the Christmas’ that Prince William grew up with.
Unlike the formal royal celebrations, it’s a much more relaxed day with Kate’s loved ones.
Pippa has previously spoken about the family time, describing it as “magical” and revealing that her dad always rocks a fancy dress outfit.
One of his favourites includes an inflatable sumo wrestler – and we can just imagine how much George and sweet Charlotte would love that!
The Middletons prefer to have a more fun, relaxed Christmas.
It will be Charlotte and George’s first Christmas with their maternal side of the family.
This is the second time since their 2011 nuptials that Catherine and William, who are usually firm fixtures at Sandringham, will skip the Queen’s celebrations.
But the Cambridges aren’t forgoing the royal holiday completely.
It’s believed the family will head over to the Norfolk estate on Boxing Day so that George and Charlotte can spend time with their Gan-Gan, Prince Harry and grandparents Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla.
A royal source spoke with the Daily Mail about how her Majesty felt about her grandson skipping the special day.
Grandpa Charles will no doubt be ecstatic to see the little ones later in the month.
“Her Majesty understands that it is a dilemma that many young couples face and acknowledges how close Catherine’s relationship is with her family,” the insider remarked.
“Indeed that is why she has long included Mr and Mrs Middleton in family events.”
“She thinks they have conducted themselves impeccably and with enormous dignity over the years.”
And the 90-year-old monarch will still have a full house.
Getting up to all sorts of mischief will be little Mia Tindall, who will be accompanied by her pregnant mum Zara and dad Mike.
Prince Harry, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Andrew with his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence and Prince Edward with his wife, Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, and their children, Lady Louise and James, Viscount Severn will also be joining in on the festivities.
This story originally appeared on Woman’s Day Australia
