Royal Family's strict Christmas Day rules means parents do not eat dinner with the children

The Christmas countdown is connected for Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis - but a royal regularisation means they volition beryllium temporarily separated from their parents connected the large day

The royals are gearing up for their yearly Christmas Day celebrations astatine Sandringham with King Charles and Queen Camilla.

Members of the family, including Prince William, Princess Kate, and their 3 children, are expected to question to Norfolk for the festivities. But an antithetic regularisation means that Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis volition beryllium separated from their parents erstwhile it comes to Christmas lunch.

Former royal cook Darren McGrady, who worked for some the late Queen Elizabeth II and Princess Diana, antecedently told Harpers Bazaar that the royal children cannot devour with their grown-ups astatine authoritative dinners oregon during holidays. Instead, the youngsters volition devour with their nannies successful the nursery.

"The children ever ate successful the nursery until they were aged capable to behaviour themselves decently astatine the eating table," helium said.

"So for the Queen, determination was ne'er a lawsuit of putting a precocious seat astatine the array with a small babe squealing and throwing food. It was Victorian. The children's spot was successful the nursery and Nanny would instrumentality attraction of them. It's your modern-day Downton Abbey."

Princess Anne's son-in-law Mike Tindall antecedently confirmed that royal children dine separately from their parents astatine royal gatherings.

Every year, the royals clasp a ample household luncheon - usually astatine Buckingham Palace - wherever elder royals travel unneurotic with extended members of the household for a festive repast since not everyone travels to Sandringham for the holidays.

And successful 2019, Mike spoke astir the pre-Christmas celebrations connected his podcast, 'The Good, The Bad and The Rugby'. His 2 co-hosts asked: "Do you find yourself upgrading each twelvemonth and getting person to the main array oregon are you disconnected retired the back? Is determination a promotion and relegation based connected the year's performance? Because if determination is, I ideate you're beauteous overmuch sitting connected the right-hand broadside of Her Majesty."

Mike stayed quiescent passim the jokes, but added: "I was connected Prince Charles's table, it was lovely." He past revealed that the young royals, including his children Mia, Lena, and Lucas, person their ain array successful a abstracted country distant from the adults.

He said: "This is the household lunch, determination were 7 tables truthful determination indispensable person been astir 70 of america there. The kiddies person their ain small 1 successful a antithetic room."

It comes aft erstwhile cook Darren lifted the lid connected the royals' Christmas celebrations, telling the BBC: "We worked alternate Christmases. You would beryllium astatine Sandringham for 2 weeks. So, if you wanted to observe with your family, you’d person to observe with them earlier oregon aft due to the fact that usually you’d beryllium up determination from December 22 until aft New Year.

"But they ever made it peculiar for you… The unit would person tons to portion and determination would beryllium loads of nutrient and cocoa – and you’d person the afloat turkey roast, truthful you weren't truly missing retired due to the fact that you were enjoying the solemnisation too."

As for the nutrient served to the family, Darren revealed: "They would commencement with a afloat cooked meal connected Christmas Day. They opened their Christmas presents the time before, connected Christmas Eve. So aft meal they'd spell to church, travel backmost and spell connected to lunch."

Christmas lunch, meanwhile, "was ever roast turkey and each the trimmings". "Usually it was homemade sage and bulb stuffing, Brussels sprouts with bacon and chestnuts, sometimes parsnips and carrots – it varied twelvemonth to twelvemonth – mashed potatoes and roast potatoes, homemade gravy, past Christmas pudding with brandy sauce.