15 holiday traditions the British royal family followed during the queen’s reign – National | 24CA News
‘Tis the season for household gatherings, festive markets, cookie exchanges — and questioning precisely how these very well-off royals spend the vacations.
As it seems, the House of Windsor had greater than their share of quirky and downright uncommon Christmas traditions that may depart you scratching your head. From gut-busting gag items and garlic bans to correct teacup etiquette and a somewhat surprising before-and-after dinner weigh-in (sure, actually!), we’ve uncovered a few of the most weird “holiday commandments” the royal household adopted beneath the reign of Queen Elizabeth II.
Thou shalt… attend the annual vacation luncheon
Every week earlier than Christmas, Queen Elizabeth would host an annual luncheon at Buckingham Palace for her complete prolonged household — an unique visitor checklist that sometimes totals greater than 50 folks.
Although she delivered fancy invitations properly upfront, woe betide anybody who declined the beneficiant provide to spend the afternoon balancing their tea cups whereas mingling with a slew of faces solely seen every year. Little else is understood concerning the top-secret occasion (no images was allowed), leaving royal watchers and the British tabloids speculating about what truly went on behind these gilded gates.
See additionally: All the canine breeds the royals are obsessive about, past corgis.
Thou shalt… spend Christmas at Sandringham
If you thought prepping a Christmas turkey in your vacation feast was traumatic, how do you suppose the royal cooks really feel? Christmas week at Sandringham House, on the grounds of what’s now King Charles’ Norfolk property, is an absolute must-attend — though the uncommon exception is typically granted.
Once upon a time, shut household wouldn’t be allowed to spend Christmas away from Sandringham. Just ask Diana, Princess of Wales, who by no means received to spend the massive day along with her Spencer clan. In latest years, nevertheless, the queen allowed for some wiggle room, letting Prince William and Duchess Kate go to the Middleton household in 2014.
See additionally: 10 weird guidelines royal youngsters need to to observe.
Thou shalt… purchase gag-worthy items
Set apart any preconceived notions you might need as to the kinds of presents the royal household purchase each other throughout the holidays. As it seems, it’s all a few good gag. On Christmas Eve, the Windsors lay out their items on a desk and alternate them over piping scorching cups of tea.
The theme? Cheap, cheerful and full-out hilarious.
That’s proper — as a strategy to minimize unfastened and keep away from flaunting their wealth, the royal household buys one another gag items as an alternative of costly gadgets. A couple of years again, Kate famously purchased the then-single Harry a “Grow Your Own Girlfriend” package whereas the prince allegedly purchased his beloved granny a bathe cap with “Ain’t Life a B*tch” printed throughout the highest.
Oh, to have been a fly on the wall when the queen opened that reward.
Related: The most stunning royal marriage ceremony robes and what they value.
Thou shalt… stroll to church on Christmas morning
It’s one thing of an annual custom for the Norfolk locals to line the streets resulting in St. Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham property to catch a glimpse of the royal household as they stroll to attend the Christmas morning service.
The Windsor clan — minus the little kiddos — walks the complete method, greeting royal watchers alongside the trail, except for the queen, who would arrive promptly on the church door through automobile.
The 2017 service, specifically, was a biggie for royal followers because it was the primary time the not-yet-a-duchess Meghan curtsied to the queen in public. Naturally, it was dissected by news retailers for days afterward. A couple of issues the previous actor wanted to recollect: curtsies ought to by no means graze the ground; you merely put one leg behind the opposite, permit for a mild bend on the knees and bow your head barely. (Markle nailed it, for the file.)
You may additionally like: 6 methods Princess Diana and Meghan Markle are extra alike than you suppose.
Thou shalt… at all times costume formally
This shouldn’t actually come as a shock, but it surely nonetheless must be stated: there’s no lounging round in PJs — not even on Christmas morning. (Our sympathies exit to the little ones — George, Charlotte and Louis.) The complete household is anticipated to be dressed and prepared for all of the Christmas Day festivities, from the morning church service to the formal night dinner. Modesty first, whereas nonetheless being trendy.
See additionally: From heels to hats: 10 trend guidelines the royals should observe.
Thou shalt… be weighed earlier than and after dinner
This shouldn’t be a joke, pals. According to royal skilled and Majesty editor-in-chief, Ingrid Stewart, each royal member of the family is weighed earlier than and after their Christmas dinner. (We’ll offer you a second to let that sink in.) It’s apparently a convention that dates again to the early 1900s throughout the reign of King Edward VII who, as a method of figuring out whether or not or not his friends had been sufficiently fed, requested all of them to step on the dimensions.
Given the truth that the Windsors get pleasure from three enormous meals all through Christmas Day, the dimensions appears greater than slightly extreme. Some traditions simply don’t age properly.
You may additionally like: Royal household’s web price: how wealthy are they?
Parlez-vous français?
The queen was extremely fluent in French and most popular for it for use throughout all formal dinner events. That meant, the Christmas dinner menu was supposedly printed in French, as properly. No phrase on whether or not Kate or Meghan have been accustomed to the language once they spent their first Christmas with the royals.
See additionally: Meghan Markle and the battle amongst Black girls in all places.
Thou shalt not… eat garlic
We’ve all received these meals or seasonings we merely can’t stand, be it because of style or texture. Queen Elizabeth, nevertheless, had one intense dislike that additionally occurred to be a typical cooking ingredient: garlic. As former royal chef John Higgins instructed the National Post in 2016, “they’re missing out on garlic because, at Buckingham Palace, you don’t cook with garlic. I suppose, in case you get the ‘royal burp.’” The actual motive, based on experiences? The queen hated the odor.
Related: Every time Harry and Meghan have been actual about their psychological well being.
Thou shalt… stop to eat as soon as Her Majesty is completed
One of the good issues about being a queen is that, with regards to meals, you set the tempo. During meals, when Queen Elizabeth had taken her final chunk, she reportedly would quietly put down her fork and everybody else must observe her lead, whether or not or not they’re truly carried out with their meals. We think about this should have been a battle for almost all of her friends.
Related: Iconic royal hairstyles all through the years.
Thou shalt… fold thy napkins in half
When on the desk, napkins have to be folded in half in any respect time to keep away from ugly stains and meals bits. Royals are anticipated to softly wipe their mouths and palms contained in the fold of their napkins. To do in any other case would threat soiled garments — gasp! — and gross napkins colored in a wide range of less-than-appetizing meals stains. Out of sight, out of thoughts.
Thou shalt not… play Monopoly
During the vacation break, the royals would get pleasure from rousing video games of charades. Queen Elizabeth beloved it a lot that nobody else can be allowed to retire from the room till she was carried out taking part in. But there’s one recreation, specifically, that was strictly prohibited — Monopoly.
Yes, that board recreation the place you accumulate actual property and “get out of jail free” playing cards. The motive? In the previous, it’s gotten too aggressive and heated so the queen had it banished. What we wish to know is who the responsible social gathering is.
Thou shalt… use utensils correctly
The majority of us commoners don’t sometimes spend time dwelling on how we minimize into our meals throughout a meal, however the royals take their eating etiquette very, very significantly. Regardless of whether or not you’re right-handed or left-handed, knives have to be held together with your proper and forks together with your left (with the tines going through down, after all). It doesn’t finish there: when you’ve minimize off a chunk of meals, it have to be balanced on the again of the fork, as an alternative of poked via with the tines.
See additionally: The world’s most enchanting castles.
Thou shalt… observe the chief
Entrances are an essential issue within the Windsor household hierarchy, and the Orders of Precedence pecking order is nailed right down to a precise science. The procession, naturally, used to start with the queen and would proceed so as of these subsequent in line to the throne. For instance, previous to his demise in April 2021, Prince Philip by no means entered a room alongside his spouse — he at all times trailed behind her by a couple of paces throughout all public and formal occasions.
Now, King Charles would be the head of the pack.
Thou shalt… drink tea accurately
Yes, there’s an accurate strategy to maintain a teacup and saucer — and, sure, meaning you’ve most likely been doing it unsuitable. As etiquette skilled Myka Meier instructed People, a royal is anticipated to make use of their thumb and index finger to carry the highest of the deal with, with the center finger gently supporting the underside of the cup. Keep these pinkies tucked in! In addition, the ladies have an additional rule to abide by — one should sip from the very same spot to keep away from lipstick stains across the rim.
Related: Prince Harry is able to spill (extra) tea with new memoir.
Thou shalt not… take down Christmas decor till February
Although most of Queen Elizabeth’s friends would begin to depart Sandringham House after Boxing Day, the queen reportedly continued with the festive feels till the second week of February. Although this might sound odd to some, there’s truly a very poignant motive behind the queen’s need to maintain the tree and tinsel up for an additional month-and-a-half.
Her father, King George VI, handed away on February 6, 1952, and it was her method of remembering him throughout the vacation season earlier than she would head again to London for the yr.
