While at 92, Queen Elizabeth probably now has help buying gifts for her loved ones, but it's been reported that she previously enjoyed doing her own Christmas shopping. Wanting only the best for her family, Harrods would apparently stay open after hours just for the Queen, so she could shop at her leisure.
The family members who are invited to spend the Christmas period with the Queen and Prince Philip at Sandringham are given a specific time to arrive on Christmas Eve. Each group will get a different time to turn up according to their status within the family. The most junior members will turn up first, and the most important – the likes of Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, for example – will arrive last.
According to former royal chef Darren McGrady, 'the Royal Family has a large Christmas tree and a large silver artificial tree in the dining room, which is about 30 years old'.
Last year, it's thought that Prince Harry asked his grandmother to make an exception to the rule for Meghan, due to her family home being so far away. Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams explained why he thinks the family were so happy to oblige despite their strict traditions: 'Now they are engaged and she will shortly be a senior member of the royal family, it is pivotal that she feels an integral part of it as soon as possible,' he said at the time.
After gathering at Sandringham House on Christmas Eve afternoon, the younger members of the royal family put the finishing touches on the trees. But if former royal chef Darren McGrady is to be believed, we can imagine the Queen sneaks back down later to make sure the kids haven't made them look a mess. 'The Queen is not lavish, so the décor is minimal,' he told Good Housekeeping.
In keeping with the family's German heritage, gifts are given on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.
The two Princes traditionally take to the pitch along with locals and Sandringham staff on opposing teams for a game of Christmas Eve football. Usually, they'll wear the socks of their favourite teams (William supports Aston Villa and Harry supports Arsenal) but in 2015, they strayed from tradition to play on the same side – that of the local pub, The Black Horse Inn.
According to the Telegraph, it's a 'relatively formal affair, with the men wearing black tie suits and the woman wearing gowns, expensive jewellery, and tiaras'.
Seeing as the Queen is literally the head of the Church of England, it's fitting that the royal family attend a Christmas morning service. The entire family walks – usually led by Prince Philip – to St Mary Magdalene Church for a 45 minute service. The Queen, meanwhile, is driven.
Just like the rest of us! The only difference being, theirs is cooked by a professional chef and is served along with the likes of lobster. '[After church] they have a big lunch that includes a salad with shrimp or lobster, and a roasted turkey, and all of your traditional side dishes like parsnips, carrots, Brussels sprouts and Christmas pudding with brandy butter for dessert,' explained Darren McGrady. 'They stick with the same meal year after year.' he added.
In keeping with every other meal the Queen eats throughout the year, the Christmas Day menu is written in French.