One royal festive tradition could get a shake up when William takes the throne – the Prince of Wales is said to prefer a more laid back Christmas rather than the traditional royal bash
Prince William could axe a royal Christmas tradition when he becomes king(Image: AP)
Prince William is set to make a major change and ditch a long-standing and outdated Christmas tradition for the Royals.
The Royal Family meet at Sandringham for their Christmas celebrations each year but among the many ceremonies of the day, one is set to change. It is said Prince William will scrap a tradition where royals hand out “joke” £5 gifts based on their seniority in the family. The game reportedly involves the cheap presents being handed out by the King, or previously by the late Queen, from a table based on the Royal family’s hierarchy.
Sources are reported as saying Prince William will shake up or get rid of the outdated event when he becomes king.
A source has said he will change the families apparent £5 gift exchange(Image: Getty Images)READ MORE: Royal Family LIVE: Meghan’s dad loses leg after life-saving surgeryREAD MORE: Royal Family LIVE: Prince Harry take swipe at Royals in new speech
Prince William has done Christmas differently in recent years with Kate and his children. William and Kate are thought to prefer their more informal Christmas gatherings at Anmer Hall, in Norfolk, with the Middletons and their kids.
The royal Sandringham festive celebration is opposite to the more laidback and traditional Christmas that the future King is said to prefer, as it is filled with ceremonies and formal meals.
The £5 gifts tradition sees more senior royals handed their present first while more junior members are made to wait, according to the Daily Mail.
Prince William and Princess Kate with their three children at the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service(Image: Getty Images)
A source has claimed the idea around the gifts is expected to remain but the hierarchal aspect of the tradition is likely set to go.
They said: “While William’s mind is on much bigger changes than just the trestle table, it’s well known to be one of those antiquated traditions that he’s never really taken to.
“You can expect that to be one of the first things to go when he eventually hosts his first Sandringham Christmas.”
Other formal traditions at the Sandringham Christmas is a black tie dinner on Christmas Eve, where the family sits based on hierarchy.
William with George and Charlotte at Sandringham on Christmas(Image: AFP via Getty Images)
The source added why they believe King Charles has continued several of these old Christmas traditions with his family.
They added: “It’s just not William’s way of doing things at home and he has apparently quipped in the past that he wouldn’t continue any of that stuff, though he appreciates his father does it for the nostalgia and as a way to remember the Queen.”
One change to this years Christmas family gathering is that Andrew Mountbatten Windsor will not be in attendance, following King Charles’ dramatic removal of his bother’s royal titles and privileges.
Andrew and Sarah Ferguson are set to be kicked out of their Royal Lodge home. Andrew will be moved to a property on the private Sandringham Estate while Fergie was told to make her own plans.
This however is set to happen after Christmas, meaning the disgraced pair will have one last Christmas at Royal Lodge and keeps Andrew and Fergie away from Sandringham during the festive period.