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Ever wondered what the royal family gets up to on Christmas day?
A former royal chef, Darren McGrady, has revealed the family’s Christmas traditions.
The royals spend Christmas every year at their private estate Sandringham house in Norfolk which is modestly decorated.
“The Queen is not lavish, so the décor is minimal. The Royal Family has a large Christmas tree and a large silver artificial tree in the dining room, which is about 30 years old,” McGrady told The Independent.
A lot of the royal family’s traditions are typical of most British families – Tea in the afternoon, Church on Christmas morning, exchanging gifts and eating fruitcake and chocolate.
“The queen is a major chocoholic, particularly dark chocolate, so she always has a chocolate treat on Christmas. She also loves mint,” says McGrady.
Although they have the same Christmas lunch every year, the royal menu is anything but ordinary.
According to McGrady the menu includes “salad with shrimp or lobster, a roasted turkey, and all of your traditional side dishes like parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts, and Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert.”
After which everyone gathers round to listen to the Queen’s speech.
Christmas dinner is particularly special for the royal staff members as it is the one time a year the Queen can serve those who serve her.
McGrady recalls this as one of his fondest memories in his former position as royal chef, “Right before the Christmas buffet, the senior chef on duty goes into the dining room and carves the rib roast or turkey or ham and once he’s done, Her Majesty presents the chef with a glass of whisky and they toast. That’s the only time the chef goes into the dining room and has a glass of whiskey with the royal family. It’s one of the chef’s favourite traditions.”
With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s recent engagement announcement, we wonder if Meghan will be spending Christmas with the Prince and his family and taking part in these traditions or, heading home to America for the holidays. Only time will tell!
