British Royal Christmas 2: Sep 2022 -

[tommy100]

There is clearly no “three line whip” and yet they all choose to attend so they must enjoy it and want to do so. For those born in to the RF it is what they have done for most of their lives so it is probably a tradition they all like holding on to.
Zara, Peter, the Snowdons and the Chattos did all have a phase of alternating every other year so I assume they could well do so again (plus William and Catherine have done so) It only seemed to change in the very last few years of the HLMs life- after Covid, which makes sense really.

 

[FigTree]

They have lean years and heavy years. The Phillips girls and Peter and Wolfie and the Snowden’s and Chatto all alternate years. They seem to alternate the same years. Zara didn’t go until recently. It’s fine. It’s what they have always done and I can’t see it changing no matter who the monarch is. It’s the tradition, Charles is very close to his maternal cousins. David works for him and he also makes an effort with his paternal side as well. William seems very close to Peter, Zara and Eugenie. And I would imagine, given she is there, Beatrice.

 

[Iluvbertie]

I think that the future Christmases at Sandringham will evolve just as they have in the past, whether at Sandringham or Windsor, with those further removed from the Sovereign no longer being invited.

I suspect William will still have Christmas at Sandringham but he won't stay in the 'big house' just as he doesn't now. Anmer is on the Sandringham Estate so he can live in his own home and have some extended family stay at the big house or, if he does want a much smaller event with just his immediate family and Catherine's siblings etc then he keeps the main house open to the public and says to his cousins etc - do your own thing for Christmas ... I don't want to see you,

 

[muriel]

Interesting that none of the Parker-Bowles children / grand children were seen on the walk to the church yesterday. Perhaps they chose to not go to church and stay out of the public eye.

They have lean years and heavy years. The Phillips girls and Peter and Wolfie and the Snowden’s and Chatto all alternate years. They seem to alternate the same years. Zara didn’t go until recently. It’s fine. It’s what they have always done and I can’t see it changing no matter who the monarch is. It’s the tradition, Charles is very close to his maternal cousins. David works for him and he also makes an effort with his paternal side as well. William seems very close to Peter, Zara and Eugenie. And I would imagine, given she is there, Beatrice.

I concur. The various cousins (Linley / Chatto / Tindal / Phillips etc) come quite regularly to Sandringham, but also disappear ever so often, presumably to see their in-laws.

I can't see that change materially under King William. Perhaps the Chatto's and Linley's would get dropped.The Wales family seem quite close to the Phillips and Tindals, so I suspect they will keep spending Christmas together. That could well be still at Sandringham, or another royal house.

 

[FigTree]

Interesting that none of the Parker-Bowles children / grand children were seen on the walk to the church yesterday. Perhaps they chose to not go to church and stay out of the public eye.

They made their way privately I heard.

 

[CyrilVladisla]

It looks like Lieutenant Chatto was able to attend the service this year.

I am also glad that Arthur Chatto attended!

 

[Mirabel]

Well I don't celebrate Christmas, so today has no meaning to me. So I figured it might be the same for Wolfie's mother. They might have an agreement that Wolfie spends his Christmases with his dad, but he spends his Chinese New Years with his mom.

I think Wolfie may spend summers with his mother; I recall seeing reports that they were at a resort in the USA last year.

 

[FigTree]

I think Wolfie may spend summers with his mother; I recall seeing reports that they were at a resort in the USA last year.

He spends every other Christmas with his mother. Like a lot of separated people now custody seems to be 50/50.

 

[Hallo girl]

Well William once and Eugenie this year for the first time so it's extremely rare. I can well imagine Wolfie's mother being delighted to let him him attend Christmas with the royals for the cache it brings so I imagine it will continue for as long as Charles is on the throne. Call me cynical but I can't think of any other reason for missing it with her only child or the past 3 years now.

I do not think it is any of our business how Wolfies parents share access, he is a little boy whose father married into a member of the royal family, he is entitled to privacy.

 

[tommy100]

I’ve looked back to 2005 and Zara and Mike (once married) and the Chattos and Linley’s/snowdon’s were doing basically every other year until Covid which was the last Sandringham Christmas of the late Queen’s reign. Even Eugenie and Bea missed one year presumably being with Sarah and Peter and Zara missed some years presumably being with their father or with friends. The RF actually has a large number of “split families” and seems to handle it well IMO. Clearly they are able to choose to be at Sandringham or not and make whatever is the best choice for them.
I suspect for many we are now back on track in regards to alternating years, 2022 was the year the Queen died so all probably wanted to be there, 2023 Charles first full year as King so a show of support, now we are back to relative normality.

 

[crm2317]

Wolfie attends Sandringham every other year which seems to be totally normal for split families.

I think it’s lovely that the Queen’s nephew and niece are still included at Christmas. It would seem Earl Snowdon’s children were probably with their mother this year for Christmas so nice he had plenty of family to celebrate with.

 

[Mbruno]

I’ve looked back to 2005 and Zara and Mike (once married) and the Chattos and Linley’s/snowdon’s were doing basically every other year until Covid which was the last Sandringham Christmas of the late Queen’s reign. Even Eugenie and Bea missed one year presumably being with Sarah and Peter and Zara missed some years presumably being with their father or with friends. The RF actually has a large number of “split families” and seems to handle it well IMO. Clearly they are able to choose to be at Sandringham or not and make whatever is the best choice for them.
I suspect for many we are now back on track in regards to alternating years, 2022 was the year the Queen died so all probably wanted to be there, 2023 Charles first full year as King so a show of support, now we are back to relative normality.

Family relations change over time. When I was younger and spent Christmas at my grandparents', I saw all of my cousins (and uncles/aunts) there too. Now that my grandparents are no longer alive and I spend Christmas with my parents, it is just my brothers and their families (wives and children). Probably, when my parents are gone, I might not even see my brothers at Christmas anymore (hopefully I still will, but I am not sure).

Mutatis mutandis, it is totally natural in my opinion that, when William is King, some of the more distant relatives will drift apart while new relatives are added (obviously George's, Charlotte's and Louis' families, when they have one).

 

[FigTree]

Back in the day the Kents and Gloucesters went too but then they moved back to Sandringham.

 

[sophie25]

Wolfie attends Sandringham every other year which seems to be totally normal for split families.

I think it’s lovely that the Queen’s nephew and niece are still included at Christmas. It would seem Earl Snowdon’s children were probably with their mother this year for Christmas so nice he had plenty of family to celebrate with.

He doesn't, he's been at Sandringham for the past 3 years.

 

[Princess_Eleanor]

He doesn't, he's been at Sandringham for the past 3 years.

No, he wasn't there last year. He participated in the walk to church for the first time in 2022, then he wasn't there last year and this year he was there again. So he alternates.

 

[Minister of Court]

Back in the day the Kents and Gloucesters went too but then they moved back to Sandringham.

Those were the days!

 

[tommy100]

They were indeed! And how many of us predicted Charles would move Christmas back to Windsor in his reign - I know I did! Glad to see we were wrong though.

 

[FigTree]

They were indeed! And how many of us predicted Charles would move Christmas back to Windsor in his reign - I know I did! Glad to see we were wrong though.

He doesn't spend much time at Windsor. Sandringham seems the house of choice.

 

[Alison H]

I don't recognize the lady walking next to Sam Chatto. Has he brought his girlfriend along?

I don't think unmarried partners have been invited previously, apart from Meghan and that wasn't until she and Harry were officially engaged, so it looks as if this is something that Charles has changed.

Samuel Chatto's girlfriend follows in Meghan Markle's footsteps during Sandringham debut

Princess Margaret's grandson was joined by his girlfriend for the annual Christmas Day service with the royals

www.hellomagazine.com

 

[tommy100]

The King’s Christmas speech was watched by around 7million people on Christmas Day overnight data reports.

It was third in the rankings after Gavin and Stacey the finale and the new Wallis and Gromit film. It was around 1million more than tuned in last year.

In a week or so figures will be updated with catch up services counted in.

Gavin and Stacey finale tops Christmas television ratings

An average of 12.3 million viewers tuned in live to last episode of long-running BBC sitcom

www.theguardian.com

Christmas TV: Gavin and Stacey finale tops ratings - BBC News

More than 12 million viewers tuned in to watch the finale of Gavin and Stacey on Christmas Day.

www.bbc.com

 

[muriel]

He doesn't spend much time at Windsor. Sandringham seems the house of choice.

We do not know where the King spends most of his time. My understanding is that he is at Windsor a lot more than people realise. A lot of the dinner, bed & breakfast type of entertaining takes place there.

In the last 2 years, Charles has spent more time at Sandringham than he previously did. This may have been driven by his work on the gardens at Sandringham, and across the estate. I understand he has invested heavily in rare breed cattle and in turning the estate organic. He is also reducing the scale of the stud operation.

 

[tommy100]

Yes Charles is said to be at Windsor many Sunday-Mondays. The issue is the Court Circular heads most engagements that take place there under “Buckingham Palace”, presumably because the court has not moved fully to Windsor as it does to Balmoral etc.
That said, he had shown no interest as far as we can see in moving Christmas from Sandringham. I wonder how long he will stay for before leaving for Birkhall.

 

[royalwatcher96]

I don't think unmarried partners have been invited previously, apart from Meghan and that wasn't until she and Harry were officially engaged, so it looks as if this is something that Charles has changed.

Samuel Chatto's girlfriend follows in Meghan Markle's footsteps during Sandringham debut

Princess Margaret's grandson was joined by his girlfriend for the annual Christmas Day service with the royals

www.hellomagazine.com

Gosh, your first Christmas at Sandringham must be quite exciting and/or nerve wracking.

 

[tommy100]

I imagine it would be! But I guess it also depends on who and how often you have met others in the family.

 

[Somebody]

Yes Charles is said to be at Windsor many Sunday-Mondays. The issue is the Court Circular heads most engagements that take place there under “Buckingham Palace”, presumably because the court has not moved fully to Windsor as it does to Balmoral etc.
That said, he had shown no interest as far as we can see in moving Christmas from Sandringham. I wonder how long he will stay for before leaving for Birkhall.

But why would an activity taking place in Windsor be listed as taking place at Buckingham Palace? It's not hard to figure out where Charles is at the time of a specific engagement - whether lots of other court officials are there or not.

 

[tommy100]

It isn’t listed as taking place at Windsor but it sits under “Buckingham Palace” in the Court Circular because that is where “the court” is. The same happens when Charles is at Birkhall, it is listed under Balmoral and even then usually often only in the summer months when court has officially moved to Balmoral. With the events at Windsor it is possible to tell sometimes but sometimes it just says “HM granted an audience to XYZ” without mentioning where it was thus you assume its Buckingham Palace as thats where it is listed under. Often by the evening he is back at BP so that may play a part it, saves having two places listed in the Court Circular. It means careful reading of each engagement is the only way to really know where Charles is and even then unless a residence is explicitly stated its not always clear.

 

[Curryong]

In reality if guests are over-awed then they won’t have a lot of time to adjust. Even most regular Xmas guests at Sandringham have never stayed at the property for more than three days at the most.
The exception was when the Queen was very old and frail and close family members would stay for a few days more. Other sides of guests’ families have to be catered for, to be fair, and a lot of the late Queen’s grandchildren had left by Boxing Day afternoon.

 

[DukeOfWashington]

I don't think unmarried partners have been invited previously, apart from Meghan and that wasn't until she and Harry were officially engaged, so it looks as if this is something that Charles has changed.

Samuel Chatto's girlfriend follows in Meghan Markle's footsteps during Sandringham debut

Princess Margaret's grandson was joined by his girlfriend for the annual Christmas Day service with the royals

www.hellomagazine.com

Edo joined while he and Beatrice were engaged, too, in 2019 and during the reign of the late Queen Elizabeth. Certainly no doubt we will see more of such under King Charles who has a much more casual view of those things than the late Queen Elizabeth.

 

[Iluvbertie]

Yes Charles is said to be at Windsor many Sunday-Mondays. The issue is the Court Circular heads most engagements that take place there under “Buckingham Palace”, presumably because the court has not moved fully to Windsor as it does to Balmoral etc.
That said, he had shown no interest as far as we can see in moving Christmas from Sandringham. I wonder how long he will stay for before leaving for Birkhall.

The CC does identify when an event takes place at Windsor even if listed under the heading of BP e.g. most investitures are under BP but have taken place at Windsor this year - especially those done by William and Anne.

 

[muriel]

That said, he had shown no interest as far as we can see in moving Christmas from Sandringham. I wonder how long he will stay for before leaving for Birkhall.

I see no reason to try and move Christmas to Windsor. Camilla can have her family come and stay at Sandringham, so does not need to make the journey. Also, the Wales family can stay at home at Anmer, and have the Middletons visit, if they so choose. The rest can fit in.