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NEED TO KNOW
The British royal family's tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve comes from their German heritage
Prince Harry revealed in his memoir that the royal family prefers exchanging gag gifts over lavish ones
Christmas Eve at Sandringham includes tea, snacks and a festive meal, followed by traditional Christmas Day activities
For theBritish royal family,Christmas is rife with tradition— annual holiday luncheons, parties,festive cards with well-wishes, games, formal dinners andvisits to Sandringham House.
One custom that has steadfastly remained for centuries? Opening presents on Christmas Eve.
While many families around the world open gifts on Christmas morning, the royals take their cue from their deep German roots and exchange gifts on Dec. 24. Since 1988, their celebrations have been held at the monarch's country estate in Norfolk,per the royal family's official website.
The presents are laid out on trestle tables, with an exchange occurring at teatime. Then on Christmas Day, the familytakes their walk to attend morning servicesat St. Mary Magdalene, Sandringham, a church dating back to the 16th century.
Find out why the British royal family keeps up the German holiday practice of opening holiday presents on Christmas Eve, and what it — and other merry celebrations — have to do withQueen Victoria.
What day does the royal family open presents?
Members of the British royal family exchange gifts every Dec. 24 — not on Christmas morning as many families do.
Why do the British royals follow a German holiday tradition?
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AsPrince Harryput it in his 2023 memoir,Spare, exchanging presents on Christmas Eve is "a German tradition that survived the anglicizing of the family surname from Saxe-Coburg-Gotha to Windsor."
According toHouse Beautiful, Christmas Eve, or "Heiligabend," is when the holiday is celebrated in Germany.
"Many households spend the day decorating the tree, preparing food for the family and sprucing up the home. As soon as the night draws in, households will gather around the tree," the publication reported. "According to tradition, the 'Christkind' (Christ child) delivers the presents when the children are waiting outside the room. A bell is rung for children to let them know it's time to come into the room, where they find the presents lying under the tree."
The British royal family "is inextricably entwined with Germany,"according toBarron's. King George I, crowned in 1714, was the first German king of Great Britain; he belonged to the House of Hanover. In 1940, Queen Victoria, one of his descendants, married a German prince, Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha. Victoria's German roots also include her mother, Marie Louise Victoria, the Duchess of Kent, and her paternal grandmother.
What do Christmas Eve and Christmas Day look like for the royals?
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The German tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve continues to this day.
On Dec. 24, around 4 p.m., tea and snacks are typically served to guests — who arrived earlier in the afternoon — in the White Drawing Room at Sandringham. In the Red Drawing Room, staff have already laid out presents on trestle tables for each family member.
The royal family doesn't exchange expensive, lavish presents; instead, they opt for gag gifts. As Harry describes it inSpare, each royal family member stands before their assigned presents, then collectively tears into the gifts.
"Suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time," he wrote. "A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper."
Later, on Christmas Eve, the royal family gathers for a meal together at Sandringham at 8:30 p.m. The dinner typically involves "something festive, some game, like pheasant or venison, and roasted wintery vegetables, like parsnips," chef Darren McGrady, who worked for the royal family for 15 years, told PEOPLE.
On Christmas morning, the family heads to church service at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate and mingles with the public.
"I have had the giggles many, many times in the service,"Prince Williamsaid of the Christmas Day service on the Apple Fitness+ podcastTime to Walkin December 2021,perThe Mirror. "Luckily, no one's filming it, so you can get away with it. And on Christmas Day, it's fun to have a giggle and enjoy yourself."
After the services, they head back to Sandringham House to enjoy the traditional Christmas lunch of Norfolk turkey. Then, the family gathers to watch the annual Christmas broadcast delivered by the monarch at 3 p.m. U.K. time before adjourning to the Saloon, where jigsaw puzzles are traditionally laid out, or to exercise on Sandringham's 20,000 acres.
When did the royal family change their surname?
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Following her marriage, Queen Victoria rechristened the royal family's name from Hanover to Saxe-Coburg-Gotha.
Then in 1917, the royal family adopted its current surname: Windsor. That change occurred during World War I, made "as a result of anti-German feeling,"per the royal family's official website. The name Windsor came from "the castle of the same name."
What Christmas traditions did Queen Victoria and Prince Albert popularize?
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Queen Victoria and Prince Albert are responsible for many of the royal family's Christmas traditions that continue today, not the least of which ismaking the Christmas tree a popular staple.
According toCountry Living, the first decorated Christmas tree, similar to those popular today, originated in 16th-century Germany. According to the royal website, Queen Charlotte is thought to have introduced the tree to the royal family, but Victoria and Albert popularized it throughout England years later.
In 1948, an etching of them celebrating with their family around the evergreen was published in theIllustrated London News. The idea of trimming Christmas trees and decorating them indoors was then extended to English households.
Bringing the tree into Windsor Castle on Christmas Eve was an annual tradition for Victoria and Albert,per the BBC. The royal family would also exchange gifts that evening,according to the Royal Collection Trust.
Known as both a popular monarch and a trendsetter, Victoria alsopopularized the white wedding dress.
How did the royals celebrate Christmas in 2024?
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The royal family experienced a difficult year of health struggles in 2024 — bothKing CharlesandKate Middletonwerediagnosed with cancer— but they still came together for The Firm's cherished tradition of celebrating Christmas at Sandringham.
Charles andQueen Camillaled the royal family's annual Christmas walkfor the third year. Theywere joined by Kate, William and their children,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis, who were allcoordinated in shades of green and blue. Prince Edward and Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, joined with their children,Lady Louise Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, as didPrincess Anneand her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Anne's children,Zara Tindalland Peter Phillips, also stepped out with their families.
After the service, Kategreeted the members of the publicwho lined the route, eager to catch a glimpse of the royal family. She warmly shook hands, accepted armfuls of flowers and knelt to speak with young children. Her kids stood close by William, gathering trinkets and treats from the crowd.
Earlier that month, meeting with families of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment of Picton Barracks in Wiltshire, William shared that he was anticipatingcelebrating with 45 family membersin 2024.
Absent from the festivities werePrincess BeatriceandPrincess Eugenie, as they spent the holiday season with their respective in-laws. Harry and his wife,Meghan Markle, were also not in attendance, as theyweren't invited to Christmas at Sandringhamin 2024.
Do Prince Harry and Meghan Markle keep up with the tradition in the U.S.?
Harry added in his memoir that even after he, Meghan and sonPrince Archie— born in May 2019 — relocated to the U.S. in 2020, they continued to open presents on Christmas Eve. Their daughter,Princess Lilbet,was born in June 2021.
"Keeping to the Windsor family tradition," he wrote.
Though they were celebrating in the U.S. rather than England, fans got a peek into how their year was leading up to the holidays, as Harry and Meghanshared a public holiday cardin December 2024 (they alsosent a private oneto family and friends).
"Every single holiday is a new adventure," MeghantoldMarie Clairein November 2024, adding that she stressed the importance of her kids experiencing the "magic' of traditions like "great recipes that they end up connecting to a formative memory," with one of those traditions including putting out "carrots for the reindeer."
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Samir Hussein/WireImage NEED TO KNOW The British royal family's tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve comes from their Germa...
