What the royals REALLY do at Christmas at Sandringham: from crazy gifts to two turkeys… new show reveals festive secrets

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

And like most families, the Royals have their own traditions, which we get a unique insight into thanks to 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 enormous turkeys served on the big day.

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

“The public loved it and the modern Christmas was born,” says historian Professor Kate Williams, who appears in the documentary.

But for all its association with Christmas, Sandringham is also marked by emotion, the scene of the deaths of George V in January 1936 and George VI in February 1952. ‘The death of her beloved father was one of the reasons why the Queen usually would stay at Sandringham early in the morning. February, because she wanted to commemorate that moment of great sadness,” says Kate.

The royals are expected to gather for a stately black tie dinner at their country retreat in Sandringham on Christmas Eve (Photo: 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 occasion. ‘At Christmas, Elizabeth was monarch and consort in one. She actually did both roles, 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 the main planner for the Christmas holidays.”

In a tradition inherited from the German side of the family, the royals exchange gifts on Christmas Eve. “They don’t give big gifts; In fact, the rule is: the funnier, the better,” says Kate.

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

The family then dresses for dinner, the first of at least five formal outfit changes during the Christmas season, 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 black tie night, they pull out all the stops,” he reveals.

King Charles delivers his 2022 Christmas message, months after his mother the Queen died

Sandringham (pictured) has been a hallmark of royal life since 1862, when Queen Victoria purchased the estate as a gift for her son, the future Edward VII, who turned 21 that year and was soon to be married

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

The drinks are followed by a candlelit dinner, which can last until the small hours, making the buffet breakfast on Christmas morning a very welcome affair. “Sausages, kedgeree, kippers, everyone prepares themselves,” says Kate.

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

“Christmas dinner is the only time the bird enters the dining room whole and is cut up in front of the family,” says Darren McGrady, who was the Queen’s personal chef for 11 years.

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

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

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