The Royal Family is set to host yet another year of Christmas traditions, with a number of staple on-season traditions to take place.

From a good royal kickabout to the time of gift-giving, it seems the traditions of the Royal Family are somewhat similar to that of members of the public. Specific timings for lunch, presents and mass are all present in plans for the festive season. Celebrations start much earlier than expected for the family, who are hosting a number of parties across the month of December. Charity days, attendances at causes members of the family support, and public appearances are just one of 12 traditions the royals must cater to through the Christmas season.

Aside from the public appearances and planned-out parties to celebrate their supported causes, members of the Royal Family invited to the in-house festivities are expected to follow the routines and well-established codes of Christmas. The week leading up to Christmas would see a luncheon, usually held at Buckingham Palace. Extended members of the family are invited to the event and there are a few photos showing the dining set-up inside. It is likely this year will see Prince William, King Charles and other members of the family attend.

Christmas cards are a keen tradition for the family, who send out their annual holiday cards every year. Signings were said to start in the summer months when Queen Elizabeth II was still head of state, though this may have changed following her death in September 2022. Annual holiday cards are still expected, as are warm greetings on social media accounts operated by or on behalf of the Royal Family. For their Christmas holiday proper, the family are believed to head to Sandringham Estate.

Games and extracurricular activities are attached to the usual day of celebrations. A royal kickabout is carried out with the likes of Prince William and at-the-time of his attendance, Prince Harry, heading out for a game of football, townandcountry reported. Whether the traditional game still continues is not currently known, though donations to local charities during the festive period are a staple for the Royal Family. A black-tie Christmas dinner is set in place for the family too, who share gifts with one another on Christmas Eve night.

Prince Harry revealed the gift-giving process the night before Christmas Day, writing in his autobiography, Spare: “We were at Sandringham in a big room with a long table covered with white cloth and white name cards. By custom, at the start of the night, each of us located our place, stood before our mound of presents. Then suddenly, everyone began opening at the same time. A free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper.” There are also a collection of trees kept in the house. Three fir trees are brought to the Marble Hall in Buckingham Palace every year, though the family are not present at the palace on Christmas Day.

Instead, they head to Sandringham Estate, where a church service is carried out before lunch. It is only after lunch the family can relax from their festive duties and wind down a little. Although the staple annual broadcast, to be delivered by King Charles III, will still be sent out to televisions across the nation, a game of charades and other Christmas-themed fun is believed to follow.