Historic reason the Royal Family open their presents on Christmas Eve

As reported continue to swirl that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are trying to action their '2024 redemption plan', a royal author has claimed Prince William and Kate Middleton have made it "clear" the Sussexes are not welcome in the Royal Family. Harry, 39, and Meghan, 42, are said to be working on rehabilitating their image after a drama-filled few years, but the couple failed to attend another Christmas with the Royal Family, opting to remain in California.

The Royal Family wished people across the nation all the best for 2024 as the hours count down until the bells ring at midnight, as their official Twitter page posted a special message on New Year's Eve.

Prince William once got into a "water fight" when he let loose during a Royal Family Christmas party. It has been revealed that the Prince was playing around with a member of staff in St James' Palace, while in the company of Prince Harry and Camilla. Former royal butler Grant Harrold, recalled the moment and other "hilarious" times in an interview with Slingo.

Prince William has revealed that he loves to play a Christmas game with his children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte, which often leaves everyone "very cross".The Prince of Wales shared this during a special chat in 2021 with Radio Marsden, a radio station serving the Royal Marsden Hospital, where he is a patron. During the conversation, a boy named Henry asked Prince William about his favourite board game.To this, the future King replied: "Henry, we are playing board games with the children quite a lot.

during their annual walkabout at St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham.Ferguson — who is also affectionately known as Fergie — joined the Windsors for the holiday alongside her daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, for the fist time since the 90s.According to “Charles III: New King. New Court” author Robert Hardman, the reason why she was welcomed back for the Yuletide occasion was due to King Charles’ love for Beatrice, 35, and Eugenie, 33.“Life moves on.

After two days of eating and drinking in lavish style, Boxing Day is when many of the royals get up early, pull on their waxed Barbour jackets and wellington boots, and load their guns for a day of shooting on the 20,000-acre Sandringham estate. Although for many of us the day is about strolling off the excesses, playing games and snuggling in front of the TV, senior members of the family are expected to join the hunt for plump pheasants or grouse.

, their courtship and subsequent marriage have been the focus of interest for a vast amount of people living on Earth. The impeccable style has only added to her appeal, leading to an entourage of fans dedicated to of the future Queen of England.

is a reminder that–for , , , , and –Berkshire is now home base.After years of releasing photographs of themselves together at Norfolk’s (with the occasional holiday snap thrown in), photographer Josh Shinner was dispatched to Windsor to capture this year’s picture, which sees the Wales family posing together against a simple backdrop, dressed in coordinated white shirts and denim.The Prince and Princess of Wales and family on their 2023 Christmas card.On Christmas morning, the Prince and Princess released an additional image from the shoot, an informal portrait of their three children, also taken by Josh Shinner, which finds all three sitting on a bench, Princess Charlotte in the centre with her arms around her brothers, George and Louis, on either side.More than ever, the message is , the Waleses’ positioning that of a couple whose primary concern is giving their children as stable and healthy an upbringing as possible. They have deliberately chosen to live in the four-bedroomed in lieu of Windsor Castle proper; they no longer have a live-in nanny in the form of Maria Teresa Turrion Borrallo (although she does still work for them); and their kids are enrolled at the nearby Lambrook School in Ascot, with Prince William and Kate Middleton doing the school run themselves each morning.If, as is widely expected, George follows in his father’s footsteps and enrolls as a boarder at Eton in a few years, the family’s move also means they’re now just 15 minutes from campus – readily available if and when the Prince should need them – while the Middletons are less than an hour away at Bucklebury Manor, poised to take on any necessary grandparent duties.It wasn’t the last we saw of the Waleses this Christmas, of course.

Christmas morning in the UK saw the King lead the royal family’s traditional walk to church from his home of Sandringham in Norfolk, eastern England, with some familiar faces on display.

The royal family marked Christmas Day by attending the traditional festive church service on the King’s Sandringham estate.

We've forever in awe at how great Kate Middleton's hair and make-up always looks. Whether she's stepping out on royal engagements or attending black tie balls, the Princess of Wales always looks flawless. Christmas is a busy time for the royal too, with Kate hosting a carol service at Westminster Abbey for the third year in a row, as well as attending the annual Christmas Day church service at Sandringham.

Along with cringey cracker jokes, fights over the best Quality Street chocolate and post-lunch naps in front of the TV, Christmas Day would not feel right if we didn’t see the royals heading off on their seasonal trip to church. While the service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham is a strictly private affair, all eyes turn on the family as they make their way there, often stopping to chat to locals who gather to give their seasonal greetings. Last year, the family headed to church for the first time without Queen Elizabeth II leading the way.

Christmas morning is likely very similar for the Royal Family as it is for many of us up and down the UK. After the younger members of the family have woken up early to see if Santa Claus has been, they will then attend the annual morning service at St Mary Magdalene church. While the church service happens behind closed doors, the Prince of Wales previously revealed some of the best kept secrets from over the years during his appearance on the Apple Fitness + podcast Time to Walk.

It might be 26 years since Paul Burrell worked for the Royal Family, but the former butler still likes to add some Royal magic to his Christmas celebrations. Paul, 65, spent over two decades working with the Royal Family and was previously the late Princess Diana's butler. He's now opened up about what it was like to celebrate Christmas at Sandringham with the Royals, admitting there are certain things he misses about the annual festivities The I'm A Celeb star has also revealed he's taken tips from his Royal Christmases when it comes to setting up his dinner table at his home, which he shares with husband Graham Cooper.

Gift-giving can be a challenging affair when your nearest and dearest already own priceless jewels, designer clothes and luxury cars. So instead of splashing out on expensive, over-the-top items, the royals don’t take seasonal gifting seriously.

The Royal Family's Christmas celebrations are famously similar to many other families up and down the country - albeit with a few more unique elements thrown in which take their historic German roots into account. While we can expect to see everyone from The King and the Queen to The Prince and Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis in attendance on the morning walk to St Mary Magdalene Church, what do they get up the rest of the day? The main dinner on Christmas Day is one of the most highly anticipated meals of the year and it’s no secret that we like it to run as smoothly as possible.

The royals have enjoyed spending Christmas at Sandringham for decades, and after creating so many special memories there with the late Queen, the King seems keen for them to keep making more. “Christmas at Sandringham has been absolutely central to the family for years, and that legacy looks certain to continue with Charles,” says royal expert Duncan Larcombe.

The Prince and Princess of Wales enjoy a very close relationship with the Middleton family and often spend part of the Christmas holidays with them at home in Berkshire. Among many exciting family traditions, this year will be extra special for the family following a new addition to the clan in October.

The Royal Family have introduced many customs which have gone on to become popular traditions over the years.

Christmas is a time to let our hair down and pop open the champagne to celebrate the festive season with our loved ones. But for members of the Royal Family, it's not quite as easy as that, as they have a booze rule they always follow. This year, King Charles and Queen Camilla will be hosting Christmas at Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, with both sides of their family taking part in the festivities.