This year’s royal Christmas celebrations are set to take a distinct turn, as King Charles faces the ongoing challenge of his health battle, reportedly linked to cancer, and the Prince and Princess of Wales make a shift in their festive plans.
The holidays at Sandringham will look very different for the royal family this year, with sources revealing that the Prince and Princess of Wales have chosen to focus on a more intimate and “middle-class” Christmas at Anmer Hall, Norfolk, surrounded by their children and Catherine’s family, the Middletons.
In a poignant sign of the changing dynamics within the royal family, Camilla’s children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, are said to have received invites to join the royal Christmas gathering at Sandringham—a decision that could further affect the overall tone of the festivities.
Camilla, who traditionally leaves Sandringham after Christmas dinner to host her own family at her Wiltshire home, is expected to make the same move this year.
While King Charles is embracing some changes as the new monarch, he is also keen to maintain certain traditions. This year, the royal family is expected to attend church together on Christmas morning and meet with members of the public afterward, continuing the tradition of royal engagement with the public during the festive period. King Charles, who has overseen significant renovations to Sandringham’s gardens, will remain in Norfolk for New Year’s Eve—a departure from the usual royal custom of ringing in the new year in Scotland. The King will extend his stay in Norfolk before heading to Scotland in late January.