How Prince William and Kate Middleton Spent Christmas This Year
There were lots of presents and sweet treats.


Christmas looked a lot different for the Royal Family this year—most notably, Prince William and Kate Middleton were not able to join Queen Elizabeth for her Windsor Castle celebrations. But what exactly was the couple up to on December 25? And more importantly, did William give Kate a present??
Turns out, Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had their own quiet celebration at Anmer Hall, their countryside home in Norfolk, England. An insider told Us Weekly that the couple enjoyed spending the day with their children, and participated in some lovely holiday traditions.
For starters, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis woke up at 5 a.m. to see if Santa Claus brought them any gifts. The two boys reportedly got some outdoor gear—a camping kit for George (complete with tent and walkie talkies) and a climbing frame for Louis. Charlotte received a children’s video camera, and all three kids got additional games and books under the tree.
“While Kate and William avoid overly spoiling the children, they let the rule slide at Christmas,” the source said.
The children weren’t the only ones to unwrap some joy on Christmas morning. “After a busy year, William wanted to make this Christmas extra special for Kate and surprised her with a beautiful bracelet,” the source revealed.
When gift-giving time was over, Kate turned her attention to preparing a homemade meal for her family. According to the inside source, “Kate cooked a traditional Christmas feast for lunch—turkey, stuffing, pigs in blankets, ham, roast potatoes, and all the trimmings.” In addition, the Duchess “used her creative skills to decorate the table with candles, evergreen branches, and cones as centerpieces.”
The meal was followed up with dessert—a Christmas log and apple pie, which the children helped Kate prepare. “But the highlight was making a gingerbread house, covered in their favorite sweets,” the source said.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
You’ll also be glad to know that William and Kate did have some contact with the rest of the Royal Family on Christmas Day. They were able to video chat with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles at Windsor, which reportedly made the children very happy.
The following day wasn’t quite as happy for some family members, however. Boxing Day (December 26) is a big day for football fans, and William and George were disappointed that their favorite team, Aston Villa, lost to Chelsea.
“But they didn’t let it ruin the festivities!” the source said.

Caitlin Morton is a freelance writer based in Kansas City, with more than eight years of experience covering travel, pop culture, and fashion. Her byline has appeared in Condé Nast Traveler, Vogue, Architectural Digest, AFAR, Real Simple, Thrillist, and many more publications.
-
Princess Kate Takes Inspiration From This Unexpected Royal as She Prepares to be Queen
"She’s hugely influential behind the scenes in hiring and decision-making," a royal source said.
By Kristin Contino
-
Sofia Richie Grainge Styles a $7,600 Wicker Bag With $90 Sneakers
As only she can.
By Kelsey Stiegman
-
Kendall Jenner Gives a Paris Jacket Trend Her L.A. Minimalist Spin
It's chic in any zip code.
By Halie LeSavage
-
Princess Kate Is "Allergic to Any PR Gimmicks" and Takes Inspiration From This Unexpected Royal as She Prepares to be Queen
"She’s hugely influential behind the scenes in hiring and decision-making," a royal source said.
By Kristin Contino
-
Prince William Is Tired of "Too Much Talk," Says He Wants to Make This Major Change When He's King
The Prince of Wales is said to be "tough" and results-driven.
By Kristin Contino
-
Body Language Expert Details the Moment Prince William Showed Himself to Be the "Ideal" Future King at Pope Francis's Funeral
"It is probably the biggest compliment to William to say that he was close to invisible."
By Amy Mackelden
-
Kate Middleton Is Determined "to Make Sure" George, Charlotte and Louis are "Better" Than Her at This Royal Skill
The Princess of Wales is starting them out young.
By Kristin Contino
-
The One Thing That "Triggers" Prince William and Makes Him "Fly Off the Handle" When It Comes to Kate Middleton
"I had never seen her husband, Prince William, so angry," a royal expert explained.
By Amy Mackelden
-
King Charles Made an "Awful" Press Comment During Prince William's Awkward 2005 Interview About Marriage
"Look, I'm only 22 for God's sake."
By Kristin Contino
-
I Tried Kate Middleton's Surprisingly Simple Morning Routine—Here's What Worked
My results were hit or miss—but the princess is on to something with one step.
By Kristin Contino
-
Former Royal Nanny Reveals Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis Have Such Different Personalities
"You see how grounded they really are."
By Amy Mackelden