What the royals REALLY get up to at Christmas in Sandringham: From silly gifts to two turkeys… new show reveals festive secrets

At 75, King Charles has seen all kinds of changes within the monarchy, yet one thing has remained a constant: as Christmas approaches he will head to Sandringham, the royal residence where he has spent most of his Christmases to date.

And like most families, the royals have their own traditions, which we are being given a unique insight into courtesy of a new documentary that takes us behind the closed doors of the Norfolk estate, from the silly gifts exchanged on Christmas Eve to the two vast turkeys served on the big day.

Sandringham has been a feature of royal life since 1862 when Queen Victoria bought the estate as a gift for her son, the future Edward VII, who was turning 21 that year and was soon to marry. It was during Victoria’s reign that Christmas evolved into the festival we know today, sparked by an 1848 newspaper image of the Queen, Prince Albert and their children standing round a Christmas tree. 

‘The public loved it, and the modern Christmas was born,’ says historian Professor Kate Williams, who features in the documentary.

Yet for all its association with Christmas, Sandringham is marked with poignancy too, the scene of the deaths of George V in January 1936 and George VI in February 1952. ‘Her beloved father’s death was one reason the Queen would usually stay at Sandringham until early February, because she wanted to commemorate that moment of great sadness,’ says Kate.

Like many families, the royal family will celebrate Christmas this year according to their most favourite festive traditions (Pictured: Princess Charlotte, Princess of Wales, Queen Camilla, Prince George, King Charles and Prince William attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church on December 25, 2022 in Sandringham, Norfolk)

The royals are expected to gather for a stately black tie dinner at their country residence in Sandringham on Christmas Eve (Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attend a dinner hosted by Her Majesty’s Ambassador to France, on March 17, 2017 in Paris, France)

Despite this, Christmas at Sandringham has always been a joyful affair. ‘At Christmas Elizabeth was monarch and consort in one, she effectively did both jobs which meant she oversaw all the planning – and she loved it,’ says Kate. 

‘Now, Charles is the King and Camilla is the hostess, so I suspect Camilla will be yuletide planner-in-chief.’

In a tradition inherited from the German side of the family, the royals exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. ‘They don’t do big presents – in fact the rule is, the jokier the better,’ says Kate. 

‘One year William and Kate bought Harry a grow-your-own-girlfriend kit, the Duke of Edinburgh got a light-up pepper mill and the Queen was given an apron. Princess Diana was famously caught out by this when she first joined the family – no one had told her not to splash out and she bought Princess Anne a beautiful cashmere sweater.’

The family then dress for dinner, the first of at least five formal outfit changes over the Christmas period, according to fashion designer Jacques Azagury, who once designed for Diana. ‘Christmas Eve is when everything comes out, the tiaras, the long dresses, it’s a full-on black tie evening, they pull out all the stops,’ he reveals.

King Charles delivering his 2022 Christmas Day message – months after his mother The Queen died

Sandringham (pictured) has been a feature of royal life since 1862 when Queen Victoria bought the estate as a gift for her son, the future Edward VII, who was turning 21 that year and was soon to marry 

Pictured: King Charles, the then-Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in Sandringham in 2018)

Drinks are followed by a candlelit dinner, which can stretch into the small hours, making the Christmas morning buffet breakfast a most welcome affair. ‘Sausages, kedgeree, kippers, everyone helps themselves,’ says Kate.

The family then attend church before returning for drinks at 12.45pm. Christmas lunch is served at 1.15pm, with two turkeys carried into the dining room. 

‘Christmas dinner is the only time the bird goes into the dining room whole and is carved in front of the family,’ says Darren McGrady, who spent 11 years as the Queen’s personal chef.

And for afters? Christmas pudding is the only dessert on offer, of course. 

‘You light the brandy just as you walk into the dining room and everyone cheers,’ says McGrady.

Sandringham: The King At Christmas, Saturday, 8.25pm, Channel 5.