Each year, the Royal Family gather at Sandringham where they all celebrate Christmas together in style.
The public gets a glimpse of their festivities when they all attend the Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene Church and take part in a walkabout, but most of their celebrations take place behind closed doors. There are certain traditions of the royal Christmas known to the public, like the fact that for the past two centuries, they’ve exchanged gifts for each other on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day and opt for jokey presents instead of something lavish.
However, much of how the House of Windsor spends the special day is a pretty well-kept secret. Prince William has however revealed one of his favourite aspects of his family’s festivities during a recent engagement – and it’s something they do every year.
During a visit with the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment – of which he is Colonel-in-Chief – in Bulford, Wiltshire, William took part in a festive party and chatted away with his fellow partygoers, when he admitted that going on a long walk with the dogs is always a highlight of his family’s holiday.
According to Hello magazine, Leah St Clair-Lewis from WRVS Services Welfare, a charity that provides welfare to members of the British Army, William spoke of their love of dogs. She explained: ‘We spoke about what he was up to for Christmas and enjoying walks with his dogs at Sandringham.”
The Royal Family are all big animal lovers, and are also known to enjoy spending time together engaged in outdoor pursuits like walks, horse riding, and shooting – so it’s no surprise that when they all get together they get out into the great outdoors and give their four-legged friends some exercise.
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Leah also admitted to the journalists present that William had told her things can be a bit hectic when the House of Windsor gets together for Christmas because there are simply so many people in attendance. “He said there will be 45 of them under one roof for Christmas. He didn’t say whether that was just for one day or over the Christmas period.” “They must need a very long table,” Leah joked.
During Queen Elizabeth’s reign, all four of her children – and her many grandchildren and great-grandchildren – would come together at Sandringham, but now King Charles is head of the family, this now includes his two step-children through Queen Camilla : Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, and their children.
Over the years, many dogs will have been there too – with the late Queen known to have an assortment of beloved corgis close by at almost all times. William and Kate have a black cocker spaniel called Orla – with their old family dog Lupo, passing away in 2020.
Queen Camilla’s beloved dog Beth – a Jack Russell terrier she rescued from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home – also recently passed away, and it’s likely the “much-loved companion” of the Queen will be well missed over the festive season as the royals take their dogs for a walk together.
