After years of being ostracized by the royal family, Sarah Ferguson appears to be back in the fold once again!
23.12.2023 - 12:33 / ok.co.uk
The Royal Family will be counting down the days to Christmas where they will return to the Sandringham Estate and spend time together as a family. When it comes to what the royals choose to eat during the festive period, it is said their choices couldn't be more traditional with former royal chef Darren McGrady going as far to describe the family's meal choices as "boring".
Along with the classics such as turkey and a Christmas pudding, a festive tipple is a must on the big day, so what is King Charles' drink of choice and how is it so different from the late Queen's? Darren McGrady worked for the Royal Family for over 15 years and has frequently drawn back the curtain on what life was like serving one of the most famous families in the world. Speaking about how The Firm would spend Christmas, McGrady revealed that the late Queen would choose to enjoy a glass of the sweet German white wine Gewürztraminer.
Gewürztraminer is described on Decanter as: "offering complex aromas, ranging from rose to apricot kernel and tropical fruits, together with pepper and sweet spices. Dried fruits and honey also appear when there’s noble rot." While the late Queen was also understood to have enjoyed everything from a martini to a refreshing gin and Dubonnet, King Charles' tastes are quite different.
The King is said to be fond of a crisp gin and tonic when he travels abroad or a Scotch whiskey.
After years of being ostracized by the royal family, Sarah Ferguson appears to be back in the fold once again!
King Charles has reportedly adopted Prince Harry's role of jokester this year over the Christmas period.
King Charles has been seen showing affection to his grandson Prince Louis, which contradicts claims made by Prince Harry. A sweet moment where King Charles kissed Prince Louis has gone viral after Harry claimed his father "never gives hugs". It happened in a new BBC documentary, where Charles was seen with his grandchildren and the Royal Family at a rehearsal ahead of his Coronation.
King Charles III gave his second Christmas speech to the nation, but there was no mention of his youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan Markle. The speech, aired on BBC One, showcased Buckingham Palace and highlighted the charity work done by Prince William, The Princess of Wales, and their children in 2023.
The royal family marked Christmas Day by attending the traditional festive church service on the King’s Sandringham estate.
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.
With Christmas finally here, the royals are likely to be looking forward to their festive celebrations at Sandringham Estate. The Royal Family are known for their unique traditions at Christmas time, including opening presents the night before in line with the family's German roots and buying one another novelty gifts.
King Charles will address the nation later today when his annual Christmas speech airs on TV. This will be the monarch's second festive address after an incredibly busy year which has seen the Coronation, his landmark 75th birthday, several important foreign trips and a stream of family dramas.The monarch is following in the footsteps of his predecessors by making a Christmas speech - an annual trend which was started by King George V in 1932.
The King and the rest of the Royal Family are set to return to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk this Christmas and will take part in many of the fun and unique traditions that they enjoy year in, year out. Among these quirks that set members of the Firm apart from many of us in the UK are how they open their presents on Christmas Eve and buy one another joke gifts.
Among the nation's favourite Christmas films sits classics like Home Alone, Love Actually, Elf and A Christmas Carol - but it would seem that Queen Elizabeth's favourite festive flick was far from traditional. It was revealed by one of the lead actors himself that the monarch used to sit down every year with her grandchildren to watch the film.
Following Buckingham Palace's release of King Charles and Queen Camilla's Christmas card, you may be wondering exactly how many people it will be sent to all over the world. Unbelievably, the image will be delivered to more than 750 people around to world - including to foreign diplomats, international leaders, Heads of State, friends, family and members of staff.
While they observe many of the festive traditions that a popular all over the UK, the Royal Family's Christmas is also unique and unexpected in many ways. One of the most well-known royal Christmas traditions is the fact that members of the family buy each other joke gifts, rather than serious ones, with previous presents including a singing hamster, a 'grow your own girlfriend kit' and even a leather toilet seat. Among these hilarious gifts was one Prince Harry decided to give to his late grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II.
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.
Far from the world of royal banquets and formal regal traditions, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex prefer a more low-key Christmas these days. Since moving to balmy Montecito in California in March 2020, Harry, Meghan and their two children Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, have opted for relaxed festive celebrations on their luxury five-acre estate. “We’re probably talking barbecues and walks on the beach for the Sussexes rather than obligatory black-tie dinners and pheasant shoots at Sandringham,” says royal expert Duncan Larcombe.
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.
While they observe many of the festive traditions that a popular all over the UK, the Royal Family's Christmas is also unique and unexpected in many ways. From paying homage to their Germanic roots and opening their presents on Christmas Eve to taking part in a traditional Boxing Day hunt, some aspects of the royal Christmas hark back to their rich history.
Prince Harry and Meghan Markle "might not be included" in King Charles III's Christmas tradition, according to reports. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who stepped down as senior royals in 2020 and moved to the States, have rarely returned to the UK since, and have been absent from every single Christmas at Sandringham since 2018.
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.
King Charles has put a very specific old fashion Christmas ban in place as the Royal Family get ready to celebrate the festivities together at Sandringham.
Younger members of the Royal Family have been banned from taking photographs and selfies during this year’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham, OK! can reveal. As is tradition, the Royals will gather at the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk over the festive season, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, and the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children.