United Kingdom (Commonwealth Union)_ For the first time ever, the Queen’s children and grandchildren will be in the building at Sandringham for the royal family’s annual Christmas festivities.
The tradition For decades has been for members of the royal family to walk to church at St. Mary Magdalene for a Christmas Day service, followed by a festive lunch on their return to the Sandringham House.
But change is in the air this year. The Queen’s children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, as well as other members of the Queen’s family will join the lunch for the first time this year, according to the ITV report from royals editor Chris Ship.
Ship said, that the guest list of those attending Christmas lunch back at Sandringham House was being radically altered and will include many members of Queen Camilla’s family for the first time.
Ingrid Seward, Royal biographer predicted that Queen Camilla would begin to play a large role in hosting the holiday festivities following Queen Elizabeth’s death. During an interview with People, she stated Camilla would be a real presence and “can’t have [Charles] hosting his first Christmas on his own.”
“Charles has always been very, very fond of Sandringham,” Seward added. Christmas within any family is always about tradition and he will keep it the same as it ever was.
The guest list is in addition to Bowles, 48, and Lopes, 45, said to include the Queen’s five grandchildren – Lola, Freddy, Eliza, Louis, and Gus.
Prince Andrew, 63, and Sarah Ferguson, 64 will also join the festivities and will reportedly stay at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate along with their daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and any children of theirs who might be there for the holidays.
The Queen’s sister Annabel Elliot, one of her “companions” who officially helps with official engagements and events will be on hand to make sure all festivities occur without a hitch.
King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will all make the traditional walk as usual,
The bigger guest list means that the family may need to sit down for lunch in a bigger dining room, and may sit in a bigger ballroom.
