As for most people, things kick off with travel home. For the Queen, that usually means heading to her country estate of Sandringham for the family’s annual Christmas retreat.
Immediate family members have traditionally gathered to celebrate the festive season at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London, though they did relocate to Windsor Castle in the ’60s when the monarch’s children were still tiny.
If the family is able to congregate, the Queen will probably take great joy in reclaiming her hosting duties, after breaking with tradition to have a quiet Christmas last year because of the pandemic. But it will also be bittersweet for the matriarch as it’ll be the first holiday season since the death of Prince Philip, her husband of 73 years.
The Queen typically makes her way to Sandringham a few days before the rest of her clan for a final check of preparations. It’s not yet known when or how the monarch will relocate to her rural bolt hole, but in past years she’s often hopped on board a normal scheduled train from King’s Cross station in London to make the journey.
Unlike Buckingham Palace or Windsor Castle, Sandringham is the Queen’s privately owned house. Being there gives her time with her loved ones, away from cameras and the public’s watchful gaze. It’s an opportunity to unwind and enjoy each other’s company, but because of space issues, invitations to Christmas are usually only extended to immediate family.
Once guests have arrived at Sandringham — the majority reportedly on Christmas Eve — the fun begins. We can assume that merriment starts with afternoon tea to get everyone settled. Later, the royals don their finest attire for a swanky black-tie dinner, having laid out their gifts on nearby trestle tables.
After the glitzy meal, it’s time to open presents — a German custom…
Source : cnn
