Royal Christmas in Crisis
Prince Andrew, more PR nightmares, and the Waleses’ delicate dance
By now, the British royals’ tradition of spending Christmas at their Sandringham estate is almost universally known. But that isn’t the only Christmas tradition to take place at the Palace. Er…palaces.
The British monarch also traditionally hosts a “pre-Christmas lunch” for the…wider family, shall we say? This get-together gives the whole family a chance to see one another before the inner circle departs for the family’s treasured estate, Sandringham, in Norfolk.
The festive pre-Christmas gathering at Buckingham Palace typically takes place the week before the holiday and involves a private lunch. And while the Sandringham gathering encompasses some 30-odd royals, the luncheon’s numbers can reach upwards of 70.
This year, however, a few notable absences from both the pre-Christmas lunch and Sandringham’s holiday festivities are highlighting a shift in the royal family’s dynamic. Last year, we heard that the Sandringham guest list had expanded to include some of Queen Camilla’s family. This year, with absences from the Prince or Princess of Wales and the Duke of York, the changes to royal Christmas are shrouded in scandal.