Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is currently staying at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate as his new home, Marsh Farm, undergoes renovations. According to two new reports, the former Prince Andrew has received his first Royal Family guest since moving out of Royal Lodge in Windsor. He's also faced a "major security breach" from alleged protestors.

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Prince Edward has become the first royal to visit Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor since he began his exile in Norfolk." The outlet also alleged that Edward visited his brother to deliver a "quiet word."

Per the publication, Prince Edward is allegedly "worried that Andrew is dragging his heels at his temporary accommodation before his permanent move to Marsh Farm, which is next door on the estate."

As Prince Edward often stays at Wood Farm with his family, he's apparently concerned about his sibling's "reluctance" when it comes to moving out of the vacation property and into his new home.

Meanwhile, a source told the Sun, "Edward has already publicly made his feelings clear when he expressed concern for the [Epstein] victims."

The source further alleged, "Edward was meant to be staying at Wood Farm as he regularly books it for Easter, but his brother was there." The publication also suggested that the Duke of Edinburgh "was the first family member to see Andrew in two months."

Andrew's life in Sandringham has been far from smooth sailing so far. According to GB News, "Protesters have targeted Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's fence at his new home in a major security breach."

Per the outlet, a group of people allegedly "climbed the...newly constructed security fence and allegedly shouted abuse at the former prince, who appeared to be visiting Marsh Farm."

The publication noted that Andrew's "security appeared to defuse the situation," leading to the alleged protestors fleeing the area. Still, it sounds as though Marsh Farm isn't exactly a tranquil environment right now.

Earlier this year, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor moved out of Royal Lodge in Windsor and into Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate. His future home, Marsh Farm, is reportedly undergoing renovations ready for the former prince's arrival. But a new report has suggested that the ex-Duke of York has been instructed to "leave no trace" of his existence at his former property. Plus, Andrew's latest hobby has been revealed as "sitting in" a "moss-riddled" caravan.

Speaking to the Mirror, one royal source claimed, "Andrew was told everything has to be out [of Royal Lodge] and absolutely nothing was to be left behind. He hasn't been back to collect anything...Everything has to be out by the weekend and we've been told no trace of the former occupants or staff should remain."

The publication also alleged, "A number of skips have been loaded and removed from the estate, with removal vans seen coming and going. Staff have also been setting fire to further unwanted belongings of their own."

According to the outlet, "Palace sources insisted the burning of furniture and other items on the estate belonged to Andrew's former staff. "

The Mirror also alleged that the former duke "appeared downcast" while looking at some horses, following reports that he was "banned from riding" altogether.

As for how Andrew is remaining busy, the Mail on Sunday claimed the ex-royal has an unusual new hobby. "The reality of [Andrew's] radically altered situation was underlined when he took delivery of a secondhand static caravan a few days ago, which has been propped up on bricks in his back garden, bearing signs of moss," the publication explained, while labeling the vehicle "moss-riddled."

A royal source elaborated to the outlet, "Andrew uses it himself, would you believe, and what's more shocking is, he likes it. He really is a changed man; he's enjoyed sitting in the caravan. It's novel for him."

An additional source told the outlet, "People thought the caravan was for his staff, but he doesn't really have any. The staff who work elsewhere at Sandringham already help out, but many are reluctant to live in."

Until renovations on his new home are complete, Andrew will reportedly be "enjoying sitting" in his "moss-riddled" caravan.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor was forced to move out of his home, Royal Lodge in Windsor, after new details emerged regarding his association with Jeffrey Epstein. As well as losing all of his royal titles, the ex-Duke of York agreed to move on to the Sandringham estate, instead. Now, royal experts are suggesting that the former prince might be made to move properties once again.

The Sun's royal editor, Matt Wilkinson, appeared on Hello! magazine's "A Right Royal Podcast," and said, "The Royal Family use Wood Farm a lot and the Easter holidays are coming up, so there may be wider extended members of the family that would want to pop up for a holiday, a free holiday, basically, and want to use Wood Farm."

Andrew is temporarily staying at Wood Farm while renovations are completed on his new home, Marsh Farm.

Wilkinson continued, "So Andrew's got to get into Marsh Farm next door pretty sharpish. They've put the gates up, these big security gates outside. They've been working around the clock for the last couple of weeks."

The royal expert also noted that Andrew's furniture was seen being delivered to the property, along with kitchen appliances and carpets. "It looks like the kitchen has been completely done," Wilkinson noted. "And then we had the removal vans, which [contain] artwork that's been in storage, turn up this week to move into Marsh Farm."

As for when the ex-duke will be made to leave Wood Farm, Wilkinson shared on the podcast, "We were told that we were to expect Andrew to be into his new final exile by Easter, which is the first weekend in April [2026]. But I have a sneaking suspicion he could be in even before that, because they want Wood Farm back. You know, the longer he's there, the more comfy he gets."

Basically, Andrew is likely to face even more upheaval during the next few weeks.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor has endured some major life changes in 2026. After moving out of Royal Lodge in Windsor and moving into a temporary home on the Sandringham estate, the ex-prince was arrested on suspicion of misconduct in public office. According to one royal biographer, the former Duke of York's personal life has taken a nosedive amidst the tumult.

Speaking to the Express's TalkTV, biographer Andrew Lownie explained, "He's stuck on Wood Farm up in Sandringham. I hear he's not even allowed to go out the front door to go [horseback] riding."

As for how the ex-prince is occupying his time, "Lownie claimed the former Duke of York is stuck indoors watching movies all day," per the Express. The biographer elaborated, "Well, what he did before really, which is to basically mooch around all morning in his dressing gown [bathrobe] and watch films."

Discussing the former royal's hobbies, Lownie told the outlet, "He used to go out [horseback] riding. He can't play golf but he watches videos."

The biographer continued, "He's always been a bit of a couch potato and he is just doing exactly the same."

Although Andrew was released after being questioned by the police, his legal team will reportedly be monitoring the situation closely, Lownie explained.

"I think he is still hopeful that he can do business activities but he just leads a very quiet life," Lownie noted. "Most of his friends have now abandoned him. It's a pretty isolated world."

For now, at least, the former Prince Andrew is allegedly staying at home, far away from the royal spotlight.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor recently moved into a "shoebox-sized" property on the Sandringham estate. Despite his proximity to King Charles's Sandringham residence, the former prince reportedly shouldn't expect any visits from his brother. Coupled with a major "manure" problem, the ex-Duke of York's move has apparently been far from smooth.

According to GB News, "King Charles has returned to Sandringham with no intentions of seeing his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, sources have claimed." Unfortunately for Andrew, Charles is allegedly keeping his distance, with the outlet claiming, "The King has neither visited nor made contact with his younger brother."

Adding to the potential family drama, "Sources indicate Charles has no intention of seeing Andrew during his time at the estate," GB News reported.

A separate GB News report suggested that Andrew "has been placed under stringent restrictions at Wood Farm, his temporary residence on the Sandringham estate, following his detention last week on suspicion of misconduct in public office."

The publication alleged that, according to anonymous sources, Andrew is "facing tight controls on his daily actions, with claims emerging that he requires both permission and an accompanying chaperone before leaving the estate grounds."

Meanwhile, the former Prince Andrew's love of horseback riding has reportedly "been prohibited," so as to limit the ex-royal's visibility in public spaces.

To make matters even worse, "huge piles of manure" have reportedly been "dumped outside scandal-hit Andrew's Sandringham home," according to the Sun.

The Sun shared, "The ex-prince may have to put up with tons of the foul-smelling sludge placed by staff working just a stone's throw away from his Norfolk property."

One of Andrew's neighbors reportedly told the Daily Mail, "There has been a whiff of scandal around Andrew for a long time, so it is fitting that he should be exposed to the smells of the countryside."

An additional neighbor suggested that King Charles might have intentionally had manure spread next to Andrew's property. "The King owns the estate privately and is ultimately responsible for everything that goes on there, so maybe he is trying to tell him something," the local resident said.

Basically, Andrew's move to Norfolk hasn't been easy, by all accounts.

Prior to his arrest, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor had vacated Royal Lodge in Windsor in favor of a quieter home in Sandringham, away from the Royal Family. But according to one royal expert, the former Prince Andrew has already made an impact amongst his new neighbors, who have made some allegations about the disgraced royal.

Writing for the Daily Mail, royal author and expert Robert Hardman noted, "[I]f members of the Royal Family were expecting some sort of contrition from The King's brother following his banishment to internal exile in Norfolk, they have been sorely disappointed."

According to Hardman, sources close to the family alleged, "He has done nothing but complain since he got there." They continued, "It's extraordinary. He hardly seemed bothered about the Epstein scandal. He was much more worried about where he was supposed to keep his horses. He was even grumbling about where to park his car."

As a source told the author, "Given that The King is footing all his bills, you might expect some sort of gratitude. But he's been very rude. He is in another world."

Meanwhile, Harding also suggested that Andrew would likely face further repercussions following his arrest earlier this week.

"Even if the current police investigation comes to nothing, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's bovine lack of remorse for the damage he has inflicted on both the institution and the family has ensured one thing: The King has not yet finished with his brother," the royal author wrote.

As for whether or not Andrew deserves sympathy, one source shared their brutal opinion with Harding. "If anyone is tempted to feel sorry for Andrew...then don't," they told the author.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is reportedly preparing to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor. However, several reports have claimed that the former prince's new property—Marsh Farm in Sandringham—is far from ideal. In fact, rumors are suggesting that the ex-Duke of York's new home might have a rather unfortunate "pest control" problem.

As reported by the Sun, "Shamed Andrew" has made his "first secret trip to measure up curtains at his new home in exile ahead of Royal Lodge exit."

The outlet noted, "He traveled there this week to look around the place, which now has extra security...It was thought he will stay at neighboring Wood Farm Cottage until Marsh Farm is finished."

A so-called friend of the former duke told the publication, "It was the first time he's seen his new house and he is resigned to the fact that this is his future."

The friend further explained, "He's come to the conclusion that he has to get on with the rest of his life and accepts he has to make the best of it."

An additional Sun report revealed, "Pest control were seen outside shamed Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's exile pad yesterday as renovation work continued."

The publication noted that it's "unclear" why a pest control company was present at Marsh Farm, "but they usually deal with removing unwanted rats, mice, squirrels, and wasp nests."

As a result, it's entirely possible that the former Prince Andrew is handling an infestation of some kind at his new home.

Per the Sun, "removal vans" have reportedly been present at Marsh Farm, suggesting the ex-duke is planning to move out of Royal Lodge fairly soon. Hopefully, the new property will be pest-free before then.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor is set to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor in 2026, with rumors suggesting he will be provided with a new home on The King's Sandringham estate. However, according to a royal expert, the fact that the former Prince Andrew's house hasn't been inspected by the Crown Estate for 22 years is pretty "extraordinary."

As reported by the Daily Mail, "Royal Lodge was not inspected once by Crown Estate officials in the 22 years Andrew lived there rent-free." According to the report, the lack on an official inspection has caused "controversy [to] grow over the dilapidated condition of his former home."

The outlet further reported, "When the lease for the 30-room Royal Lodge estate was signed in 2003, it included unique terms which included no rent but a costly upfront refurbishment and upkeep schedule." However, it appears as though the former Duke of York hasn't necessarily kept up with his required regular renovations—nor has he been checked on by royal officials.

Speaking to the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams explained, "There is little doubt that the extraordinary absence of inspections of Royal Lodge, which under the terms of the lease could be periodically carried out, will be seen as yet another example of the sweetheart deal between the Crown Estate and Andrew."

Fitzwilliams continued, "This revelation is all the more surprising when you consider the fact that Andrew has been involved in so many high-profile disasters in recent years, and still no one thought to inspect the condition of the property until recently."

Per the outlet, when an inspection was finally carried out on Royal Lodge, officials "found it in a dilapidated state needing repairs." The scandal regarding Andrew's home "will undoubtedly lead to changes in the way leases involving members of the Royal Family are drawn up by the Crown Estate in the future," Fitzwilliams told the publication.

For now, at least, it appears as though Andrew won't receive any compensation for leaving Royal Lodge before the end of his lease, on account of the home's allegedly dreadful condition.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor—formerly known as Prince Andrew and the Duke of York—is set to move out of Royal Lodge in 2026. Rumors have suggested Andrew will move into a "shoebox-sized" property on the Sandringham estate, but some royal sources have expressed concerns about King Charles's eviction timeline.

The Daily Mail's royal editor, Rebecca English, suggested that King Charles has his work cut out for him in 2026, particularly with the fast-approaching "deadline to evict" the ex-Duke of York from Royal Lodge. "Stripping his brother of his birthright as well as his dukedom came as a huge surprise to some who doubted Charles had the stomach for it," English noted. However, Andrew's demotion seems to have been generally well-received by the general public, per English.

As for how King Charles will approach his brother's eviction, the outlet suggested that the move might be somewhat difficult. "I am told the plan is that Andrew will be 'out' of Royal Lodge by Easter, when the Royal Family traditionally gather on the Windsor estate, helpfully avoiding another potentially tricky encounter," English explained. "Whether he has a home to move into is another question."

The royal expert noted that Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate "was recently mooted" as a possible location for Andrew's new home. However, English shared, "[I]t is considered 'quite small' and needs a 'lot of work doing on it' to make it habitable and secure."

As Andrew's prospective home requires renovation, "this has raised questions over whether this work can be completed by the deadline," English wrote. As a result, this could lead to "the extraordinary prospect that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who remains eighth in line to the throne, could actually find himself homeless for a short period of time next spring."

English also alleged that Andrew "will not be going to live abroad," despite reports suggesting he's had offers to move to the Middle East.

The former Duke of York's residence seemingly isn't the only point of contention for the Royal Family, either. "There is also frustration that Andrew seems determined not to keep his head down despite his disgrace—choosing to start riding again where photographers are inevitably waiting and even going out in his car on Christmas Day," English explained.

As a source told the outlet, "It's difficult to know if he is being deliberately provocative, utterly pig-headed or just plain stupid...it could be any one of the three." The source continued, "But he seems unable to keep his head down. He really is a man with a habit of making terribly bad decisions."

On Christmas Day, Princess Charlotte joined her parents, Prince William and Princess Kate, and siblings Prince George and Prince Louis, to attend church in Sandringham. After the service, members of the Royal Family greeted royal fans who had gathered outside the church. As well as receiving gifts from well-wishers, the royals spoke with fans, some of whom had camped out overnight for a chance to meet them. Now, Prince William is receiving praise for how he handled a busy crowd moment involving his daughter, Princess Charlotte.

Royal watcher @Royally_Belle_ shared a sweet video clip on X showing Prince William and Princess Charlotte meeting members of the public on Christmas Day. The short clip showed Charlotte posing for photos with royal fans, while William watched from a short distance away. "Charlotte, you okay?" he asked her, noticing that some members of the crowd appeared to be getting quite close to his daughter.

"Protective dad mode!" the caption said of the Prince of Wales's behavior. "Prince William checking his daughter is okay, and then beaming with pride as Charlotte poses for a photo with well-wishers."

Commenters were quick to celebrate William's actions. One commented on the video, "Aww he is definitely a very proud dad! His big smile says it all." Another person shared the sentiment, writing, "Awww William is such a wonderful father! Look at how happy and proud he is of her dear daughter. Just beautiful!"

While many fans highlighted William's protective nature, others were overjoyed with Princess Charlotte's behavior on Christmas Day. "Super impressed," one commenter explained. "She is going to be a leader. She shows confidence and strength." Another fan wrote, "Princess Charlotte—like her mom—clearly enjoying the crowd."

While Princess Charlotte seems to be completely comfortable with meeting royal fans, it's nice to know Prince William always has an eye on his children.

Royal fans were delighted to see members of the Royal Family attending church in Sandringham on Christmas Day. However, Prince William allegedly had some concerns about the inclusion of Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie in the Christmas morning event.

Royal reporter Rob Shuter shared on his Substack, "Prince William strongly opposed King Charles's decision to include Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie in the family's highly choreographed Christmas church walk." However, the monarch apparently ignored William's alleged protestations and "overruled him, igniting fresh palace infighting," which insiders are reportedly calling "serious."

Shuter also suggested that, according to his sources, the Prince of Wales "warned that publicly parading ex-Prince Andrew's daughters would drag the monarchy back into scandal at the worst possible moment."

A palace insider told the outlet, "William said it was a disaster waiting to happen." The source continued, "He argued the timing was toxic and that it would hurt everyone involved—especially the sisters."

Essentially, King Charles reportedly hates being challenged by his eldest son, and wanted to make it clear that he makes the most important decisions. "Charles doesn't like being told what not to do," a source told Shuter. "This quickly became about authority. He made the call even knowing William objected."

Multiple reports have suggested that there might be some "tension" between father and son at the palace, and Shuter's sources appear to agree. "Charles actually has more trouble with William than Harry," one source claimed. "William stayed—and challenges him."

Per Shuter, "A Christmas meant to project unity instead exposed a deepening royal rift—one insiders warn could shape the monarchy's future."

Despite rumors of a "rift," royal fans were delighted to provide Christmas gifts for Prince Louis and share jokes with Princess Kate.

The Royal Family is facing criticism after the British government appeared to delete files relating to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's behavior.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the government has been "accused" of a "cover-up after censoring details of Andrew's taxpayer-funded travel." Per the publication, "Minutes of a 2004 Royal Visits Committee meeting which discussed allocating an extra £90,000 [approximately $121,000] for Andrew's many foreign trips were originally due to be among the annual release of historic public documents by the National Archive." Instead, "a legal exemption" was applied to the information as it related to the Royal Family.

Graham Smith, the CEO of anti-monarchy group Republic, told the outlet, "There should be no royal exemption at all. But this exemption surely doesn't apply to Andrew now he's no longer a royal."

As noted by the Sun, the files appeared to be "hastily redacted" in what was referred to as an "admin error."

Smith discussed the reasoning behind the sudden redaction, telling the Daily Mail, "The most likely reason for this attempt to stop disclosure is pressure from the palace. The royals have sought to keep everything under wraps when it comes to Andrew, not to protect him but to protect themselves."

Taking aim at the Royal Family, Smith explained, "The royals are one of the most secretive institutions in the [United Kingdom]. These documents should be released without fear or favor, to allow the public to make informed judgments about the royals."

GB News reported that the "decision to withhold [the] Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor files sparks fury," and suggested that "withholding the files cannot be justified" following the former duke's demotion. For now, though, the information won't be released to the general public.

Life has completely changed for the former Prince Andrew in 2025. In October, King Charles demoted the ex-Duke of York, stripping him of his remaining royal titles and serving an eviction notice on his home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. And according to a new report, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's rumored new home has a "grim" Royal Family connection involving "bodies."

While the exact location of Andrew's new property is yet to be officially confirmed, multiple reports suggest the former duke will move into Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate. The Express's deputy royal editor, Rebecca Russell, shared, "Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's new home has secret royal link—and it's pretty grim."

As noted by Russell, the location of Andrew's property was seemingly revealed "after a 'no-fly' restriction was extended to cover the home, which is located in the village of Wolferton, seven miles from Sandringham House."

As noted by Russell, the location of Andrew's new home "is perhaps most famous for having the abandoned Wolferton railway station," which has been closed since 1969. Referencing the allegedly "grim" royal connection, Russell shared that the station "was where the bodies of King George V and King George VI began their final journeys back to London after they both died at Sandringham in 1936 and 1952, respectively."

For the Royal Family, Andrew's ongoing "saga" has become even more prominent in 2025. "Unfortunately, the whole year's been dominated by Andrew," royal expert Phil Dampier told the Express. "Both The King and [Prince] William are desperate to try and draw a line under it." Soon, Andrew will leave Royal Lodge for a home on the Sandringham estate; presumably, the royals are ready for the disgraced duke to live his life away from the spotlight.

On Christmas Day, fans gathered outside of St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate to greet the Royal Family after the service. While Prince Louis "grabbed" a chocolate gift given by a fan, Princess Kate had a rather different interaction with a member of the general public involving a "collapsing chair" and a slightly risqué joke.

In a video clip shared by the Sun, Princess Kate could be seen talking to royal fans on December 25, 2025, when there was a loud noise. Per the outlet, "a patron's picnic chair snapped in half," with the "embarrassing chair mishap" occurring in the presence of the Princess of Wales.

The culprit—who was involved in the "blunder that is sure to have left him blushing," according to the Sun—reacted by saying, "What have I just done?" Princess Kate was reportedly nearby, and as seen in the video, "immediately [stepped] forward to check on him, placing a supportive hand on his shoulder."

After checking that the royal fan hadn't experienced any harm during the accident, Princess Kate's "genuine concern" turned into "laughter," the publication explained. She subsequently decided to "relieve the awkwardness" of the situation by making a joke.

In response to the "collapsing chair" incident, Princess Kate told the fan, "You've had too many mince pies." Rather than being offended, the patron reportedly laughed along with the royal, and they both "blame[d] festive indulgence for the mishap."

According to the Sun, a crowd of more than 500 people gathered for a chance to meet members of the Royal Family on Christmas Day. "Some loyal royalists had camped out overnight from as early as 9 p.m. to secure a spot at the front of the crowd," the outlet noted.

On Christmas Day, members of the Royal Family attended church in Sandringham. After the service, they met with royal fans who had gathered outside, and Prince Louis was lucky enough to receive a giant chocolate gift. But it was Princess Charlotte who emerged as a "little star," according to one royal source.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, one source revealed, "She is such a little star." According to the outlet, "Charlotte happily smiled and posed for selfies with the crowds who had gathered to celebrate Christmas Day with the royals."

The 10-year-old princess was also seen hugging one royal fan, the Daily Mail reported. Just like her mom, Princess Kate, it appears as though Charlotte is a consummate professional when it comes to attending official royal engagements and meeting fans.

Throughout the engagement, Charlotte exuded confidence, and interacted with members of the general public alongside her family and independently. However, her dad, Prince William, was never far away.

As reported by Hello! magazine, the Prince of Wales "was heard gently calling his daughter as she lagged behind slightly to chat to the crowds."

The Daily Mail suggested that royal fans were especially delighted to meet with Princess Kate and Prince William's three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. "The presence of the Wales children proved a major highlight for the estimated 500-strong crowd, many of whom queued for hours," the publication noted. The outlet also revealed, "Charlotte and Louis appeared particularly eager to interact, stopping frequently to accept small gifts and exchange festive pleasantries, while George followed closely behind."

Members of the Royal Family always attend church on Christmas Day in Sandringham, and regularly meet fans after the service. In 2025, Princess Kate's Christmas coat referenced a special date, while Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice were embraced by their relatives after a difficult year. But it was Prince Louis who stole the show, once again, when a royal fan presented him with a giant chocolate gift.

As reported by the Daily Mail, the 7-year-old prince "couldn't contain his glee when a royal fan gave [him] a massive tub of Lindor chocolates after the Christmas church service at Sandringham." According to the outlet, a video clip showed Louis "grab the box out of his father's hands after the well-wisher informed Prince William, 'Those are for Louis.'"

The Prince of Wales reportedly smoothed over the situation by telling the royal fan, "That's very kind." Photos of Louis proved he was pretty attached to the delicious Christmas present.

The Daily Mail reported that Louis was so excited to receive the present that he "grabbed the box and did a little twirl while holding onto them." In response, Prince William "sweetly ruffled his youngest child's hair while thanking the fan." Clearly, the gift was the ideal choice for Princess Kate and Prince William's youngest child.

Meanwhile, in his annual Christmas speech, King Charles called for "unity," telling viewers, "To this day, in times of uncertainty, these ways of living are treasured by all the great faiths and provide us with deep wells of hope: of resilience in the face of adversity; peace through forgiveness; simply getting to know our neighbors and, by showing respect to one another, creating new friendships."

Traditionally, King Charles hosts a Christmas celebration for members of the Royal Family at Sandringham in Norfolk. While Queen Elizabeth II was known to implement a plethora of festive traditions and rituals, The King reportedly has his own set of rules. In fact, according to a royal author, King Charles has one "unspoken rule" he expects family members to follow at Christmas.

Speaking to Hello! magazine, royal author Robert Jobson explained, "There's an unspoken rule for guests: do not arrive late. There is no grace period." He continued, "After completing the odd custom, dating back to Edward VII, of being weighed on antique jockey's scales, guests are on the clock."

As for what guests can expect from Christmas at Sandringham, Jobson told the outlet, "They change for a formal lunch, served by royal staff in the dining room. Afterwards, most go on an afternoon walk—one of the few moments when the schedule loosens up." The country walk is reportedly followed by a non-optional "afternoon tea."

Royal fans will be accustomed to the Royal Family's Christmas Day tradition of attending St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. "What many do not realize is that The King and his family will have been to church once already that morning for a private service, away from the cameras and onlookers," Jobson told the publication.

As for Christmas lunch, the royals even partake in the British tradition of opening Christmas crackers and wearing the silly hats found inside. "Everyone, even the King, wears paper hats from inside the crackers," Jobson explained.

Jobson told Hello! that he believes Christmas will be an uplifting affair for the Royal Family in 2025, in spite of the Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor saga. "The year has ended on a very positive note for The King, and the good news regarding his health will undoubtedly lift his spirits and those of the people around him," the royal author said. "It will have brought reassurance to both him and his family."

He continued, "It will be good for [Charles] to have a chance to relax among his loved ones. It will be a very special time. I'm sure he will raise a glass this Christmas to those who care for him." As long as they're on time, presumably.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor reportedly won't be attending the Royal Family's annual Christmas celebration at Sandringham. But according to a royal expert, the former prince has "soiled" King Charles's festive period due to his involvement in further "debauched" revelations.

Last week, more photos from the Jeffrey Epstein files were released, and the ex-Duke of York featured in several previously unseen pictures. One of the photos showed the former prince posing across a group of several women—their identities redacted—on a couch in the main house on the Sandringham estate. Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell could be seen standing behind the group and smiling.

Writing for the Daily Mail, royal expert Richard Kay shared, "The tawdry picture of Andrew in the Epstein files...will cast a dark cloud over the Royal Family's Christmas. He has invaded their privacy and soiled their celebrations."

Kay called the photo a "grotesque postscript to Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's former royal life," noting that "the tawdry image" was "taken at Sandringham—where he is no longer welcome." According to the expert, it is another "indelible reminder of Andrew's stratospheric fall from grace," and "for the Royal Family it is not just haunting but sordid."

Somehow managing to make matters even worse, Kay noted that the new photo of Andrew could be seen as "an invasion of [the Royal Family's] cherished privacy, taken in the very room where they will gather this week to mark Christmas."

The royal expert also highlighted that the picture was captured "in the baronial drawing room, known as the Saloon." He described the location as "an intimate inner sanctum where the family traditionally gathers for afternoon tea on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day to watch Charles's televised message." Basically, Andrew's latest association with Epstein appears to have occurred in one of the Royal Family's most sacred spaces.

Kay confirmed that "Andrew has been banished from the gathering" in 2025, following his demotion and the removal of his royal titles.

According to the outlet, the former Duke of York previously claimed that Epstein and Maxwell visited Sandringham for a "shooting weekend." The latest photographic evidence will surely pose more questions than answers, however.

Recent reports have suggested that there's a "Grinch-like mood" at Royal Lodge this holiday season. Now, it's being alleged that Prince William is "infuriated" by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's involvement in the latest release of Jeffrey Epstein photos.

One of the newly released pictures shows Andrew posing with five women whose faces have been redacted, while Epstein associate Ghislaine Maxwell stands behind them. According to the Express, the photo was allegedly captured in the saloon at Sandringham—known to be one of the late Queen Elizabeth II's "favorite" properties.

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told the outlet, "It appears that the photograph of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor lying across the laps of a row of women with Ghislaine Maxwell looking on was taken at a black tie event at Sandringham, according to Sky News."

Fitzwilliams continued, "King Charles and Prince William will have been expecting further embarrassments to emerge featuring Andrew and possibly his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. This is certainly a bizarre image."

Above all, Andrew's supposed failure to apologize for any of his alleged actions has apparently made the Prince of Wales furious. "Andrew's behavior and lack of any repentance will undoubtedly have infuriated [Prince William and King Charles]," Fitzwilliams told the outlet.

Meanwhile, one royal commentator recently suggested that Andrew could become an even bigger problem for the Royal Family if he decides to pen a tell-all memoir.

Speaking to the Sun's "Royal Exclusive" show, royal commentator Samara Gill shared, "I'm thinking that as more and more comes out, he will be more privy to be sharing things about the Royal Family and trading secrets for cash."

For now, at least, Andrew is reportedly preparing to move out of Royal Lodge in Windsor and into a temporary home on the Sandringham estate.

Earlier this year, the former Prince Andrew and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, were forced to give up their official royal titles. The pair also agreed to move out of their shared home, Royal Lodge in Windsor. Unsurprisingly, the divorced couple's daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, have reportedly been "under pressure" regarding a difficult Royal Family decision.

According to the Mail on Sunday, "Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie face a 'tug-of-love' dilemma after being invited by The King to spend Christmas at Sandringham." The invitation poses a challenge for Beatrice and Eugenie as their parents are unlikely to be invited to the Royal Family's holiday celebration this year.

"With their disgraced parents banished into exile, the sisters are being pulled in different directions by their divided family's competing demands," the publication reported.

Deciding where to spend the holidays in 2025 has apparently become both "a logistical and emotional nightmare" for the royal sisters, per the outlet.

Of Beatrice's situation, a source told the Mail on Sunday, "Unless she makes a decision to pick one side and one side only, she will spend a lot of time in the car." The source continued, "Overall it falls to the princesses to soothe family divisions. They are struggling with Christmas." The outlet also noted that "Beatrice is feeling particularly under pressure" regarding the situation.

While Beatrice is allegedly feeling stretched in multiple directions, Eugenie is apparently wondering whether to remove herself from the saga altogether. "Eugenie was tempted to stay in Portugal with her family and husband Jack Brooksbank," a source told the outlet. "She is so settled there, far from all the drama."

Meanwhile, the former Duke of York, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is believed to be moving to a tiny property the size of a "shoebox" on the Royal Family's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

The former Prince Andrew, now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, is reportedly moving into a "temporary" property on the Royal Family's Sandringham estate. According to a new report, Andrew's new home is likely to be quite a downgrade from his current mansion.

Sources confirmed to the Mail on Sunday that Andrew "is set to swap his 30-room mansion for a 'shoebox-sized' holding property on a remote part of The King's private Norfolk estate."

Of course, it's still believed that the former Duke of York will eventually move into a more "substantial home," which is "currently under extensive renovation in preparation for his arrival." However, the outlet suggested that the Andrew's eventual home in Sandringham is "still much smaller than Royal Lodge."

The Mail on Sunday also cited alleged friends of Andrew who have claimed the former prince is likely to leave the U.K. in the near future. Sources close to Andrew told the outlet "he could relocate to the Middle East where he has long-established business contacts." The publication noted, "Many believe that Bahrain is the ultimate destination for Andrew in the long term."

The publication claimed that "royal aides have begun removing the contents of Royal Lodge under 'cover of darkness' in preparation for Andrew's departure next year."

According to the Mail on Sunday, Andrew has allegedly expressed a desire to move into his father Prince Philip's retirement property, Wood Farm. But the outlet noted, "[T]here had been some debate over whether that might mean he is 'too close' to the rest of the family."

For now, at least, it appears as though Andrew will be moving out of Royal Lodge and into a much tinier home than he is used to.

When it comes Christmas, the British Royal Family has a plethora of traditions, many of which date back decades. But according to a new report, Prince William isn't a fan of one holiday tradition in particular, which he believes to be "antiquated."

According to the Daily Mail, "[W]hen Prince William becomes King, it is understood that he will scrap an outdated ceremony which involves handing out 'joke' £5 [$6.65] presents in strict order of royal seniority."

The outlet suggested that Prince William would likely keep the tradition of exchanging "joke" gifts, but he'd obliterate any semblance of "hierarchy." The so-called "'antiquated' game involves the cheap gifts being handed out" by the monarch "from a specially-assembled trestle [or folding] table in a ritual which perfectly captures the Windsor pecking order."

One royal source told the outlet, "While William's mind is on much bigger changes than just the trestle [folding] table, it's well known to be one of those antiquated traditions that he's never really taken to." The source further alleged, "You can expect that to be one of the first things to go when he eventually hosts his first Sandringham Christmas."

The publication also noted that Prince William has apparently gotten used to spending Christmas Day with his own family—wife Princess Kate and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—at Anmer Hall.

Per the Daily Mail, "Friends say the couple enjoy the Middleton-style 'family chaos' present opening rather than Sandringham's more orchestrated festivities."

Basically, "when it's finally his turn to host," William will apparently be implementing some changes, and the folding tables could be the first casualty. "I can't know how to hear any more about tables," said Prince William, probably.

The holiday season is in full swing, and for members of the Royal Family that means preparing for the annual trip to Sandringham. The royals have been celebrating on the monarch's private Norfolk, England estate since the late '80s, and along with the family's public walk to church on December 25, there are plenty of Christmas traditions that are carried on behind the scenes. Former royal chef Darren McGrady knows better than anyone what's required to keep things running smoothly at the palace, and he's revealed the "military operation" that goes into pulling off the perfect Christmas.

Speaking on behalf of Smooth Spins Casino, McGrady shared that there were never any kitchen mishaps over the holiday season. "Nothing was allowed to go wrong," he shared.

McGrady explained that the staff made the same menu every year, including "the same recipes," so it was easy to plan in advance. "All the food came in way ahead of time, even down to the fruit bowls on the tables," he said. "We would pick the perfect pears that were just ripe and perfect, just beautiful. Nothing at all went wrong; everything was perfectly planned and laid out. It was business as usual."

When asked how everything was transferred to Sandringham, the former royal chef said that one royal movie got it just right.

"If you’ve seen the movie Spencer, you’ll see the army deliver all the food in the boxes and hampers, which is what happened," McGrady shared. "Several days before Christmas, we’d send in an advance team to Sandringham, who would open up the kitchen and clean it so it was spotless. They would be there for the arrival to check in all of the food—the Norfolk turkeys would come in from the local butcher, all the local fish would come in."

And when he described the process as a "military operation," McGrady means that quite literally.

"When it came to the equipment and Christmas puddings, cakes, and all of that, that was packed carefully and driven up in army transportation," he explained. "The soldiers would bring it all into the kitchen, so we were all prepared for it. Every year it was like a military operation, so nothing went wrong."

McGrady shared that before Windsor Castle experienced a devastating fire in 1992, the Royal Family used to have many more guests for Christmas lunch, including extended relatives like Queen Elizabeth's cousins.

"Back then, we would have about 30 people at the royal table," he shared. "That's because the Gloucesters, Kents, and everyone was invited. After the fire, it was a great excuse to cut that down and move into the Sandringham dining room, which was much smaller. Then we only had 16 for lunch, plus 100 staff.”

The Royal Family has dealt with some major challenges in 2025. After new details regarding ex-Prince Andrew's connection to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein emerged, King Charles removed his brother's royal titles and evicted him from Royal Lodge. Now, King Charles is reportedly facing another issue, this time in relation to the Royal Family's traditional Christmas celebration in Sandringham.

Every year, The King hosts members of the Royal Family at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, where they attend church on Christmas morning. However, the Royal Family's attendance at church is allegedly "under threat" in 2025.

According to The Telegraph, the Royal Family's Christmas church service "has been thrown into jeopardy by striking choristers." The outlet explained, "Several members of the choir at St. Mary Magdalene in Norfolk have reportedly boycotted rehearsals following the departure of Dr. Claire Stewart, the church's director of music."

Unfortunately, the alleged "walkout threatens to disrupt the church's Christmas Day service, which the Royal Family traditionally attends."

To make matters more complicated, the music director reportedly "left her post after a period of stress-induced sick leave amid a feud over the creative direction for the choir proposed by the church's vicar."

Following reports that ex-Prince Andrew would be leaving Royal Lodge in Windsor for a home on the Sandringham estate, residents expressed their dismay to The Telegraph.

"It's not nice to be the receptacle of ne'er do wells from the Royal Family," one resident told the outlet. Another explained, "I think if he had any real sense of propriety he would maybe just keep himself to himself." They continued, "If he had any level of respect for the public. But then, I don't think he has any humility."

For now, at least, it's unclear whether the Royal Family will be able to enjoy their traditional Christmas Day church service.

Following new revelations regarding Prince Andrew's association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the royal announced his intention to relinquish his official titles. Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, will also cease use of her own royal titles, including the Duchess of York. With their parents effectively banned from Royal Family life, will Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice still receive invites to Christmas at Sandringham?

Traditionally, the monarch hosts Christmas for the Royal Family on the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. However, following the latest allegations regarding Andrew and Ferguson, the pair "will not join the Royal Family for Christmas," Hello! magazine reported.

While the former Duke and Duchess of York have been ousted from the inner royal circle, their daughters allegedly won't face the same treatment. "It's understood that Beatrice and Eugenie will be welcome to join the gathering at Sandringham and other Royal Family events," the outlet noted.

Royal expert Katie Nicholl opened up to the Mirror about the difficult position Eugenie and Beatrice had been placed in by Prince Andrew and Ferguson's actions. "Their daughters are the most unfortunate victims, they've had to suffer in silence and have been dignified in their silence," Nicholl claimed.

The royal author continued, "It can't be easy to see their parents dragged through something like this, and they remain very much loved nieces of The King. It wouldn't surprise me at all to see them at Christmas occasions in the future. They're largely untarnished."

Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams also discussed Eugenie and Beatrice's situation, telling the Mirror, "This will be a deeply painful period for the sisters as their parents are both likely to languish in public disgrace."

It appears as though Beatrice and Eugenie will continue to receive invitations to royal functions, but their parents are unlikely to have a place in public life any longer.

Amid discourse regarding whether Prince William will live at Buckingham Palace when he's king, reports suggest that King Charles's wife, Queen Camilla, is planning some "major changes." During a solo appearance at York Racecourse's Ebor Festival, The Queen was candid about a so-called "terrible" "ongoing battle" she's been dealing with at Sandringham.

While attending the annual festival on August 20, Queen Camilla reportedly discussed the "terrible" issue, which has been affecting King Charles's Sandringham Estate, as well as her own private Wiltshire home.

According to Hello! magazine, Queen Camilla told one couple "that her own bees at her private home in Wiltshire have been giving her trouble because of the way they are swarming," while "the infestation at King Charles's Norfolk estate had become a 'terrible' nuisance."

The outlet reported that signs had been placed on display at Sandringham to warn visitors, saying, "Please be aware that wasp activity is currently high in this area."

Meanwhile, Buckingham Palace is currently undergoing a "complete overhaul," which includes modernizing the historical building, Hello! reported. The extensive renovations won't be completed until 2027, and according to the outlet, "there's still one additional major change that Queen Camilla wants to make to the palace."

As reported by Hello! magazine, Queen Camilla is "hoping to build a library in Buckingham Palace, which is the only residence that does not yet have one."

The Scottish Daily Mail alleged that Camilla "has been struck that there is one royal residence which has no library." A royal source told the publication, "The Queen is simply looking to see if it might be at all possible, as rebuilding a Buckingham Palace library would be a wonderful idea."

However, even if a library is built inside Buckingham Palace, "Queen Camilla has no wish to move out of Clarence House," according to the Scottish Daily Mail. As a source told the outlet, "Do not for one minute imagine that this means she wants to live at 'BP.'" The source continued, "She is extremely happy with the status quo."

Members of the Royal Family live in fantastic palaces and regal homes filled with immense history. As a result, it's perhaps unsurprising to learn that, back in 2000, Queen Elizabeth II was involved in conducting an exorcism inside the main house on the Sandringham Estate. And according to one royal expert, the Royal Family were allegedly attempting to remove a mysterious presence from the room in question.

Queen Elizabeth II, her mom the Queen Mother, and her lady-in-waiting, Prue Penn, reportedly all took part in the Sandringham exorcism at the turn of the millennium. Speaking on his Daily Mail podcast, "Queens, Kings, and Dastardly Things," royal biographer Robert Hardman said (via People), "It wasn't a conventional exorcism."

He continued, "There was no dramatic casting out of demons, like you see in films. It was said that the room contained a troubled spirit and that the parson was supposed to bless the space."

As for the identity of the so-called "spirit" the royals wanted to exorcize from Sandringham, Hardman explained, "No-one was quite sure who the ghost was supposed to be, despite it appearing in the room where George VI [father of Queen Elizabeth II] had died." The royal biographer further noted that it had been "speculated whether it might be the ghost of Diana, the late Princess of Wales, who had died a few years before [in August 1997]."

Discussing whether or not the monarch would have been in the room for the exorcism itself, Hardman said, "The late Queen had a strong faith, but she was not superstitious." He continued, "She did not have time for these wilder theories—but she did have a strong sense of the spiritual, as does King Charles."

It remains unclear as to whether or not the "exorcism" made any noticeable difference to the house at Sandringham, but it's certainly one of the more unexpected tales from Queen Elizabeth's life.

King Charles is reportedly upset that one of his favorite Christmas traditions might be coming to an end. The Royal Family famously spends the holiday season at Sandringham, which recently encountered a security threat on account of unidentified drones. Even though Charles's relatives are likely returning to Sandringham for Christmas in 2025, one important tradition might be canceled, for good.

According to The Sun, King Charles has been "livid" as the Sandringham Boxing Day hunt might be called off, as "his royal estate is running out of pheasants to shoot." As reported by the outlet, "a series of blunders" occurred, which "left the game bird numbers dwindling at Sandringham."

A source with knowledge of the situation reportedly told the outlet, "No birds, no bang, just red faces...The King wasn't having it." Elaborating on the seriousness of the situation, The Sun explained, "[Charles] even faces calling off his annual Boxing Day shoot—and a long-serving gamekeeper at the Norfolk estate has been [fired]."

The Royal Family's history of hunting is well documented. It has long been speculated that Prince George will go hunting with his father, Prince William, as a rite of passage.

Meanwhile, Kate Middleton reportedly "put her foot down" when it came to her kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis— taking part in the Royal Family's "blooding" tradition.

Prince Harry wrote about the gruesome tradition in his memoir Spare, sharing his experience of being taken hunting in Balmoral when he turned 15. In his visceral account, Harry alleged that his hunting guide took the "blooding" tradition too far, and pushed the young royal's head inside an animal carcass.

"I was shocked by his insane strength," Harry wrote in Spare, via Hello! magazine. "And by the infernal smell. My breakfast jumped up from my stomach."

As for why the Royal Family continues to partake in their annual Boxing Day hunt, The Sun wrote, "The occasion is seen as a rare chance for family bonding, despite protests from animal rights campaigners who particularly dislike children taking part."

Princess Kate and Prince William's decision to skip Easter with the Royal Family allegedly "raised eyebrows at the palace." However, their three kids—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis—reportedly had a fun Easter in Norfolk, where they've been spending time at their family's country home, Anmer Hall.

Instead of joining the Royal Family at church in Windsor, George, Charlotte, and Louis apparently spent Easter with Kate Middleton's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton. According to Hello! magazine, Prince William, Princess Kate, and their children had a "low-key family weekend of private festivities."

The outlet also reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales, their children, and Kate's parents were all seen attending an Easter Sunday church service in Sandringham. Per an eyewitness, "The vicar, Canon Paul Williams, was spotted handing the royal family wrapped hot cross buns on their way out."

Any royal fans hoping to greet Kate and William's children on Easter Sunday were, apparently, disappointed. "Despite a large crowd of well-wishers eagerly gathering outside the church, they were unable to catch sight of the Royal Family, who left via the back entrance," Hello! reported.

While Kate and William decided to skip the Royal Family's annual Easter celebration, Prince Andrew was in attendance, alongside his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson.

Having just returned from a skiing vacation in France, Kate and William reportedly decided to spend some time together as a family before conducting any official royal engagements.

A source spoke to Us Weekly about the Prince and Princess of Wales's decision to skip Easter, calling it "a big deal." The source explained, "It's royal tradition for the family to attend this together. Everyone understood the family not attending last year when Kate was sick but there's been a lot of raised eyebrows at the palace about William's decision to skip again this year. It feels like a deliberate move and even a snub."

King Charles's home in Sandringham is set to receive a security upgrade. According to multiple reports, the monarch's home in Norfolk faced a security threat after mysterious drones were seen hovering over the property.

A "no-fly zone" was announced at the Sandringham Estate, with an official order revealing it was crucial to provide "security for members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House," per The Sun. The drones were allegedly spotted soon after the president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, visited Charles at Sandringham in early March.

According to a source, one drone was found to belong to a man without press credentials or security access who was sitting in a car close to the estate. "It prompted a security scare," the source told The Sun. "The operator was tracked down and spoken to."

According to The Sun, some of the drones spotted flying above Sandringham were untraceable, and it remains unclear who was operating the devices. "There were several drones over Sandringham and not all were accounted for," a source told the outlet. "Days later the total all-year round drone ban was imposed."

The source continued, "There have been mysterious and unexplained drone sightings at three U.S. air bases in East Anglia where Russia has been suspected...Zelensky visiting Charles would be of huge interest to Russian spies."

The new order regarding The King's Norfolk home reads, "The Secretary of State has decided that it is necessary in the public interest to restrict flying in the vicinity of Sandringham House, Norfolk, having regard to the security considerations associated with this location by reason of it being the residence of members of the Royal Family."

The order further explained (via Hello! magazine), "In view of the need for security for members of the Royal Family and other dignitaries staying at or visiting Sandringham House and at the request of the security services, it has been agreed by the Civil Aviation Authority and the Department for Transport that flying should be restricted in the vicinity of that location for reasons of public safety and security."

The United Kingdom is known for its historic sites, which include locations beloved by the Royal Family and their ancestors. While most royal fans are likely to have visited the gates of Buckingham Palace or the Tower of London—where everyone from Anne Boleyn to Elizabeth I was imprisoned—the U.K. boasts a smorgasbord of castles and stately homes with regal roots. Throughout England, Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland, visitors can immerse themselves in royal history, and even plan the perfect vacation around it.

London undoubtedly has a huge selection of Royal Family-related attractions. But outside of the capital, travelers will find immaculately preserved summer homes, important landmarks in the current King's history, and expansive estates to explore. From retired royal yachts to Queen Victoria's beach house, we've rounded up 10 must-see Royal Family destinations to plan your next vacation around.

1. Windsor Castle

As well as being home to Kate Middleton and Prince William's "modest" home, Adelaide Cottage, the town of Windsor is built around one of the Royal Family's most beautiful castles. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle tied the knot at St. George's Chapel inside Windsor Castle in May 2018, and the impressive property became Queen Elizabeth II's permanent home in the years before her death.

The 11th century castle is open to the public, and includes a number of stores and cafes, while visitors can also attend regular events and exhibitions. Nearby Eton College—where Prince Harry and Prince William went to school—allows members of the public to visit its museums and galleries. No trip to Windsor would be complete without stopping by the Crooked House, an iconic Instagram-worthy destination that features a bar inside. Frogmore House, where Meghan and Harry held their wedding reception, is occasionally open to visitors, too.

Where to stay:

The Castle Hotel. Rates start at $155 per night.

Macdonald Windsor Hotel. Rates start at $140 per night.

2. Osborne House

Prince Albert wanted Osborne House, Queen Victoria's seaside retreat on the Isle of Wight, to resemble an Italian Renaissance palazzo. Featuring a private beach, palatial gardens, and a well preserved home, Osborne House is an unusual Royal Family property, now managed by English Heritage and open to visitors. Osborne is also embedded in a royal wedding tradition—Queen Victoria planted myrtle on the estate, which is regularly used in royal bridal bouquets, including Duchess Meghan's.

Not far from Osborne is Carisbrooke Castle, an Anglo-Saxon fortress steeped in Royal Family history. King Charles I was locked up in the castle for more than a year, and Queen Victoria's daughter, Princess Beatrice, later turned it into her own summer retreat. Victoria's Island Trail provides a blueprint for any royal fan's perfect week on the Isle of Wight, and it's well worth incorporating a ride on the Steam Railway in Havenstreet. Meanwhile, foodies absolutely shouldn't miss Mexican kitchen Prickly Pear and seafood restaurant Smoking Lobster, both of which are in Cowes, where Princess Kate and Prince William have been known to go sailing.

Where to stay:

One Holyrood in Newport. Rates start at $140 per night.

Tom's Eco Lodge Glamping on Tapnell Farm. Rates start at $115 per night.

3. Edinburgh Castle & the Palace of Holyroodhouse

Edinburgh is home to two unmissable Royal Family locations—Edinburgh Castle and the Palace of Holyroodhouse. Built on a volcanic plug, Edinburgh Castle provides a dramatic backdrop for the city. Home to Mary, Queen of Scots and her son, King James I, the stronghold has been at the center of some of the Royal Family's biggest scandals. Holyrood Palace is King Charles's official residence whenever he visits Scotland, and its expansive architecture and galleries will delight regal aficionados.

History buffs will enjoy a tour of Edinburgh's underground vaults below the city's Old Town, while the Real Mary King's Close tour will provide an insight into the living and working conditions of the past. For food, The Palmerston comes highly recommended, and has a focus on sustainability and local produce, while Junk quickly found fans thanks to its promise of a "sophisticated take" on street food.

Where to stay:

W Edinburgh. Rates start at $300 per night.

VOCO Haymarket by IHG. Rates start at $150 per night.

4. Balmoral Castle

A visit to Balmoral Castle is all but essential for any Royal Family enthusiast. Set within the Scottish Highlands, Balmoral was beloved by Queen Elizabeth II, who enjoyed trolling American tourists on the grounds of her property. King Charles and Queen Camilla made the decision to allow members of the public to visit Balmoral, which includes pristine gardens, incredible state rooms, and curated produce for purchase.

Nearby church Crathie Kirk is frequented by the Royal Family when they're in Scotland, and Royal Lochnagar distillery—visited by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1848—is the ideal spot for whiskey lovers. Ballater Railway Station, known as Old Royal Station, features Queen Victoria's waiting room, and was renovated thanks to financing from The King's Foundation. Drum Castle, one of Scotland's oldest tower houses, includes a walled rose garden and a beautiful chapel.

Where to stay:

Fife Arms. Rates start at $400 per night.

Balmoral Arms. Rates start at $390 per night.

5. Hampton Court Palace

Located in the London Borough of Richmond Upon Thames, Hampton Court Palace is a wonderfully maintained royal residence with jaw-dropping gardens. The Great Hall and Tudor kitchens invoke life in the time of King Henry VIII and his six wives, while the Magic Garden children's playground brings the palace into the 21st century. Hampton Court also provides the perfect setting for concerts, an extremely elevated alternative to the regular music festival, complete with champagne. Exhibitions focus on royal fashion and life as a member of the Royal Family.

Next to Hampton Court Palace is Bushy Park, beautiful woodland gardens once beloved by Henry VIII. Deer still roam the land, while the Diana Fountain, a 17th century water feature, pays tribute to the Roman Goddess Diana. The location also has historical significance for the United States, as General Dwight D. Eisenhower established his headquarters in Bushy Park during the Second World War.

Where to stay:

The Lion Gate Mews. Rates start at $165 per night.

The Mitre Hotel, Hampton Court. Rates start at $215 per night.

6. Glamis Castle

Visitors can explore the rooms and gardens of Glamis Castle in Angus, Scotland, which has a ton of impressive Royal Family connections. Not only was it the Queen Mother's childhood home, but she also gave birth to Queen Elizabeth II's sister, Princess Margaret, in the castle in 1930. Dating back to 1372, Glamis Castle reportedly inspired William Shakespeare, as his character Macbeth lives in the regal property.

For food, the Castle Kitchen Restaurant utilizes produce from within Glamis Castle, while Armstrongs Bar and Restaurant in the village of Glamis has positive reviews. Gin drinkers should gravitate towards The Bothy Experience. On the nearby coast, visitors can explore the industrial heritage of Dundee at the Verdant Works Museum, learn about Captain Scott's 1901 Antarctic exhibition on the Royal Research Ship Discovery at Discovery Point, and savor the collections inside The McManus, Dundee's art gallery and museum.

Where to stay:

Forbes of Kingennie Country Resort. Rates start at $285 per night.

Hotel Indigo Dundee. Rates start at $100 per night.

7. Hillsborough Castle

Located close to Belfast, Hillsborough Castle is Northern Ireland's royal residence and is still used by the Royal Family during official visits. In fact, when King Charles's pen malfunctioned soon after he took the throne, he was taking part in a ceremony at Hillsborough Castle. The Georgian estate has been a crucial location in Northern Irish history, and visitors can explore the building's state rooms and its gorgeous walled garden.

The city of Belfast isn't far from Hillsborough Castle, and includes The Titanic Experience, which recreates what it was like to travel on the historic vessel. Visitors can also step on board the SS Nomadic, the last White Star Line ship, sharing much commonality with the Titanic itself. For food and atmosphere, Berts Jazz Bar inside The Merchant Hotel offers crafted cocktails, French cuisine, and live music 7 days a week.

Where to stay:

Arthur's, Royal Hillsborough. Rates start at $155 per night.

The Merchant Hotel, Belfast. Rates start at $390 per night.

8. Caernarfon Castle

King Charles's investiture as the Prince of Wales took place in 1969 at Caernarfon Castle in North Wales. The iconic royal moment was recreated in The Crown, making it no surprise that fans continue to flock to the royal fortress and palace. Dating back to the Middle Ages, Caernarfon Castle is especially picturesque as its set on the water and is often surrounded by small boats. The Old Courthouse, Caernarfon, a music venue and restaurant, comes highly recommended and is located opposite the castle.

The castle's location, North Wales, has many interesting royal connections, and several unusual buildings that are worth visiting. Other places to visit include Plas Newydd House and Garden, a grand country home dating back to 1470, and Beaumaris Castle, a beautiful but unfinished fortress on the island of Anglesey. Prince William and Princess Kate lived in Anglesey early in their relationship, as the Prince of Wales was working as a search and rescue pilot.

Where to stay:

Celtic Royal Hotel and Spa. Rates start at $125 per night.

Coed Helen Holiday Park. Rates start at $90 per night.

9. Royal Yacht Brittania

When the Royal Yacht Brittania was decommissioned, Queen Elizabeth II was moved to tears, an exceedingly rare action for the late monarch. The impressive vessel took members of the Royal Family on official visits, vacations, and even honeymoons. Now docked in Leith, outside of Edinburgh, visitors can experience the same luxuries once frequented by the royals themselves. The Royal Galley serves food to patrons, welcoming visitors to The Royal Deck Tearoom to partake in coffees, cocktails, and champagne cream teas.

Docked nearby is the Fingal, a luxury floating hotel, with The Lighthouse Restaurant serving award-winning dishes on board. The Port of Leith Distillery Restaurant and Bar offers a wide range of whiskeys and magnificent views of the water, including Figure VI of artist Anthony Gormley's 6 Times series.

Where to stay:

Fingal Hotel. Rates start at $390 per night.

Ocean Mist, Leith. Rates start at $140 per night.

10. Sandringham Estate

Members of the Royal Family generally travel to the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk for Christmas. Now, royal devotees can explore the house at Sandringham, book a tour of The King's Gardens and devour an afternoon tea, and take in the annual exhibition—this year's focuses on the signatures of Royal Family members. Concerts by musicians such as Mariah Carey and Michael Bublé also take place in the grounds, while Sandringham Restaurant serves breakfast, lunch, and afternoon tea.

Former royal residence and hunting lodge Castle Rising is in the vicinity, as is Wolferton Station near King's Lynn, once known for its regular use by the Royal Family. Also close by is Houghton Hall, the residence of Rose Hanbury and her husband, the 7th Marquess of Cholmondeley. Visitors can enjoy extensive art exhibits, attractive gardens, and pristine state rooms at the property.

Where to stay:

The Coaches and Horses, Dersingham. Rates start at $160 per night.

Congham Hall Hotel and Spa. Rates start at $325 per night.

Royal fans waiting for the Royal Family to emerge from St. Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham on Christmas Day got a front row seat to Prince Louis' latest naughty antics. Princess Kate and Prince William's youngest son reportedly demonstrated his brilliant sense of humor in the best way during the Royal Family's Christmas morning church service.

As reported by The Sun, royal fans waiting outside of the church in Sandringham listened to the festive service via loud speakers. During the sermon, Rev. Canon Paul Williams reportedly showed the crowd a Terry's Chocolate Orange, a traditional festive U.K. treat, which is formed in segments, just like the fruit. After asking the congregation if they knew how to separate the segments, he said, "You have to tap it and unwrap it." And that's when Prince Louis stepped in to make everyone laugh.

According to royal fans listening outside, Williams instructed Prince Louis to "just drop" the chocolate item on the floor. The instruction was "followed by a loud bang as the treat slammed into the floor," per The Sun. It would seem that Louis was perhaps a little over enthusiastic in "dropping" the Chocolate Orange, which reportedly caused a lot of laughter.

Prince Louis' comedy routine wasn't the only unforgettable thing to occur at Sandringham on Christmas Day. Princess Kate and Queen Camilla twinned in matching green outfits. King Charles' "hot equerry" was on hand to help Kate carry gifts from royal fans. Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were showered in gifts by well-wishers. And Princess Kate's decision to interact with everyone in the crowd drew comparisons to her mother-in-law, Princess Diana.

Meanwhile, royal author Ingrid Seward spoke to Hello! magazine about the difficulties Prince Louis and his siblings have overcome following their mom Kate Middleton's cancer diagnosis in 2024. "Kate will be wanting to spoil them a bit, because it's very frightening for children when their parents are that ill, so I think they will be up for a few treats this year," Seward said. "I think William and Kate might take the children skiing during the Easter holidays and will probably be planning a big summer holiday, because as far as we know they didn't go anywhere last year," the royal expert explained.

Christmas is an important time of year for the Royal Family, but it's also fraught with a plethora of rules and traditions. And when it comes to what the royals eat on Christmas Day, even the family's pets get special treatment.

Queen Elizabeth was known for her love of her corgis, and apparently the royal pets were treated like members of the family during the holiday season. While the Royal Family had a special menu for Christmas dinner, so did the late Queen's corgis, according to former royal chef Darren McGrady.

"We actually also had another menu, which was the royal corgis menu," McGrady told Yahoo U.K.'s "The Royal Story" (via the Daily Mail) of Christmas Dinner at Sandringham. McGrady's revelation is pretty unsurprising, especially as he's previously dished on the food he had to prepare for the Queen's dogs year-round.

"When I worked at the palace, we actually had a royal menu for the dogs," McGrady told Hello! magazine. "It would be chosen and sent to us in the kitchen every month by Mrs. Fennick, who took care of all the dogs at Sandringham."

As for what the Queen's corgis enjoyed to eat, McGrady shared, "One day it would be beef, the next day chicken, the next day lamb, the next day rabbit and it alternated through those days." He continued, "The beef would come in, we would cook it, dice it into really fine pieces and then we did same with the chicken. We'd poach them, and again chop them really, really small to make sure there were no bones so the dogs wouldn't choke."

McGrady also noted that the monarch loved her corgis so much that she "would feed them herself, I think after she'd had her tea."

Sarah Ferguson and Prince Andrew inherited Queen Elizabeth's corgis upon her death, so the dogs won't have spent Christmas at Sandringham in 2024. It was previously reported that Andrew and Ferguson would be spending the holidays together at their shared home of Royal Lodge in Windsor.

As for what the royals themselves will have eaten for Christmas dinner, former royal butler Grant Harrold told The Sun on behalf of Spin Genie, "A traditional Christmas lunch, with goose, turkey and obviously all of the trimmings."

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis were inundated with presents from royal fans on Christmas Day. Following a church service at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, the royal trio joined their parents to meet with fans who showered them in Christmas gifts. But do the royal kids actually keep the presents they receive from strangers, and what are the rules on receiving gifts as a member of the Royal Family.

Unsurprisingly, Louis, George, and Charlotte seemed elated with their Christmas Day haul, while their mom, Kate Middleton, was presented with a plethora of bouquets. However, the Royal Family must abide by a strict gifts policy, meaning that some items aren't allowed, and others must be returned.

George, Charlotte, and Louis "can accept gifts from individuals not personally known to members of the Royal Family, including the public, if they fulfil" certain criteria, per Hello! magazine.

According to the Royal Family's rules, small items—including flowers and items of food, such as candy—are permitted, meaning that George, Charlotte, and Louis likely did take home everything they received on Christmas Day. They are also allowed to accept other items, so long as they don't cost more than $190, which encourages members of the public to not overspend. Authors are also allowed to present copies of their own books to members of the Royal Family, but only if there is nothing inappropriate in the text.

Prince Louis received a special gift from 6-year-old Rupert Bradley, a young royal fan living with a lower-limb condition called Bilateral Talipes. Jeweler Kay Bradley revealed to Hello! magazine that Rupert gave Louis a "hand-finished silver egg cup and spoon bearing his grandfather, King Charles III’s last Coronation Commemorative Mark" for Christmas. Kay explained, "Rupert has always loved Prince Louis... They were born within a few days of each other, so that's why he feels a connection." She continued, "Louis is likely to be our next Duke of York, so it's important that he has a special connection to our magical city." Hopefully Rupert's gift for Louis cost less than $190 so the little royal is allowed to keep it.

Royal fans were delighted when Princess Kate spent time meeting people in the crowd after church at Sandringham on Christmas Day. Now, individuals on social media are comparing Kate Middleton to Princess Diana, due to her behavior over the holiday season.

A huge crowd of people gathered to meet members of the Royal Family outside St. Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham. At one point, the Princess of Wales joked that she'd "lost" her family, having spent so much time talking to well-wishers. King Charles' "hot equerry," Jonny Thompson, even had to help Kate to carry all of the flowers she received from fans.

After one royal fan shared a compilation video of the royals at Sandringham, other X users responded to Princess Kate's insistence on talking to everyone in the crowd. One individual dubbed Kate the "People's Princess," which was the nickname given to Diana following her tragic 1997 death. Another person responded by saying, "That's something Diana would have done."

Yet another fan wrote, "So thoughtful of the Princess of Wales," while others called her a "lovely," "caring person." Summing up the elated mood surrounding Princess Kate's Christmas Day appearance, one person wrote on X, "The Princess of Wales made up for missed greetings, embracing Sandringham with enthusiasm, ensuring no one was overlooked!"

During the Christmas Day walkabout, the Princess of Wales opened up to royal fans about her health, following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

After one royal fan called Kate an "inspiration to all patients," the Princess replied, "The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary, and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families," as reported by Hello! magazine. The royal fan in question revealed they'd worked with a cancer organization, to which Kate responded, "People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I'm hugely grateful."

A different royal fan told Kate just how much love the general public has for her, saying, "We're all behind you, never forget that." The Princess reportedly replied, "Thank you very much, [that's] so kind, nice to meet you."

Most people probably assume that members of the Royal Family spend Christmas in decadent surroundings, sitting on plush furniture, and eating expensive meals. However, one royal expert has suggested that some aspects of the Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, where the royals traditionally spend the holiday season, are a little antiquated.

During an appearance on Mail+'s "Palace Confidential" podcast, royal editor Rebecca English elaborated on the available accommodation at one of the Royal Family's most famous properties. "I've been told in the past that Sandringham can fit about 16 to 18 people to have a sleepover comfortably," English explained. However, not all guests will necessarily be sleeping on comfortable beds.

"It sounds more glamorous than it is," English said of Sandringham. According to the royal expert, guests are made to sleep on "fish finger beds," which she describes as "old fashioned beds with the really creaky bed springs at the bottom."

Of course, the main house at Sandringham isn't the only property the Royal Family can offer to guests. The estate also includes Wood Farm, where Prince Philip resided throughout his retirement.

As for how truly vast the Sandringham Estate really is, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden said, "Sandringham is one of those private estates, it's huge. I mean there are about 700 homes in total on the estate, it's massive." He continued, "In Sandringham House itself, because it's a private residence, we don't know exactly how many bedrooms there are, for example."

In a recent interview with OK! magazine, Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward described Sandringham House as "small by royal standards." While the property reportedly has 29 bedrooms, there wouldn't necessarily be room to accommodate everyone attending the Royal Family's huge Christmas gatherings. "Guests often have to stay in vacated servants' quarters or cottages in the grounds," Seward explained. "But if The King beckons, people go, so it's up to him."

Princess Anne stayed in a caravan during one particular Christmas at Sandringham, as there was a shortage of space in the main house. "One year, there were so many people, Princess Anne pitched up with a caravan that she used at horse shows and she stayed in that," Seward revealed.

Samuel Chatto has been a royal fan favorite for quite some time. Chatto, who is Princess Margaret's grandson, made a rare public appearance at King Charles' pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. And on Christmas Day, Chatto joined the Royal Family to attend church at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, where he was accompanied by his girlfriend, Eleanor Ekserdjian.

According to the Daily Mail, Chatto has reportedly inspired engagement rumors by inviting Ekserdjian to spend Christmas with the Royal Family. The couple have apparently been dating since 2021, and they're both graduates of Edinburgh University. While it's unclear whether or not they're heading towards marriage, the Daily Mail's Richard Eden suggested Chatto and Ekserdjian's relationship is serious.

Chatto and Ekserdjian seemingly have a lot in common as they're both artists. Princess Margaret's grandson is a talented ceramic artist and was recently a guest artist at the Monumental Studio at the Center for Ceramic Art. Meanwhile, Ekserdjian is an abstract painter, film artist, and curator who has collaborated with her boyfriend.

According to her official website, "Ekserdjian's practice involves projecting the moving image onto paper or canvas and drawing from and over it, her physical and emotional responses being made visible through rapid mark-making. These paintings and drawings become lyrical landscapes which explore her evolving emotional response to the film."

In 2019, Chatto discussed his creative practice with the Daily Mail, saying, "I'm working in clay to create functional and sculptural wood-fired ceramics from my home and studio in West Sussex." He continued, "I've always had a strong affinity with creating objects, having spent much of my childhood crafting imagined landscapes and sculptural models, which naturally led me to clay during my later years at school."

Chatto revealed that his "creative practice" wasn't able to thrive until after he'd completed an MA in History of Art at The University of Edinburgh. Working at North Shore Pottery [in Caithness, Scotland] allowed Chatto to develop his skill as a ceramic artist.

"Inspired by what I had seen in Scotland, and completely uninspired by my three-month job in the commercial art market, I spent my weekends setting up a small home studio to rediscover my creativity and built a wood-fired kiln at the bottom of my garden," he told the outlet. "The decision to start selling my work comes from a strong belief in the power of beautiful, well-made objects to enrich and enhance our lives."

Lieutenant Colonel Johnny Thompson became an unexpected star during King Charles' Coronation in May 2023, on account of being "really, really, ridiculously good looking." Sadly, Thompson didn't enjoy the attention, so he transitioned to a behind-the-scenes role with the Royal Family instead. However, royals fans were elated to see Thompson on Christmas Day when he resurfaced to attend church in Sandringham.

Regularly dubbed King Charles' "hot equerry," Thompson reportedly offered a "helping hand" to Kate Middleton after the Royal Family's Christmas Day church service, per Geo News. According to the outlet, Thompson helped carry all of the flowers and gifts Princess Kate received from members of the crowd, and was seen dutifully standing close to her throughout the event.

Back in October, it was reported that Lt. Col. Thompson had proposed to his girlfriend Olivia Lewis, and is set to marry, via The London Times. A statement sharing the news revealed, "The engagement is announced between Lieutenant Colonel Jonny Thompson, son of Mr and Mrs Alan Thompson of Morpeth, Northumberland, and Olivia Rose, daughter of Mr and Mrs Simon Lewis OBE of Primrose Hill, London."

Kate Middleton had her work cut out for her on Christmas Day, as a huge crowd of fans had gathered outside of St. Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham to meet her. Royal fans were seemingly keen to speak to the Princess of Wales about her recent health news, following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year. As reported by Hello! magazine, the Princess was called an "inspiration to all patients" by one individual, to which the royal replied, "The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary, and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families."

Meanwhile, another fan reportedly told Kate, via Hello!, "We're all behind you, never forget that." The Princess replied, "Thank you very much, [that's] so kind, nice to meet you."

Royal fans were so delighted to greet Princess Kate on Christmas Day that she was almost swarmed by the crowd. At one point, the Princess of Wales joked that she'd "lost" her family, after spending so much time talking to well-wishers. Kate also made some rare comments about her health, following a cancer diagnosis earlier this year.

After the Royal Family's annual Christmas Day church service, Kate Middleton met with royal fans, one of whom called her an "inspiration to all patients." As reported by Hello! magazine, the Princess replied, "The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary, and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families."

The Princess of Wales also thanked the fan, who revealed they'd worked with a cancer organization, saying, "People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I'm hugely grateful."

According to the outlet, another royal fan told Kate, "We're all behind you, never forget that." The Princess reportedly replied, "Thank you very much, [that's] so kind, nice to meet you."

Princess Kate also spoke with 73-year-old Karen Maclean, who shared that she'd been living with cancer for twenty years. "We just had a little talk about cancer, really," Maclean explained, via The Independent. "I've met the King before. He said to me, 'I can remember you.' I'm thinking, 'What! Like many years ago?'"

Maclean noted she believed Kate and Charles appeared to be "very well actually, considering what they're going through." She also remarked that, following a hug, the Princess said, "What a privilege."

While Kate's appearance at St. Mary Magdalene church in Sandringham on Christmas Day seemed to go smoothly, a body language expert suggested the royal may have had at least one "moment of concern."

Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that Princess Kate appeared to have an "unsmiling expression" after church. This allegedly occurred when Kate became separated from her husband, Prince William, and was perhaps due to "tiredness or a moment of concern," James said. "She looked across at William and they exchanged a glance that came with an 'ignited smile,' meaning her expression responded to his grin with an instant and wide smile of her own," James told the outlet, describing the moment as "perhaps the biggest body language cue of the current relationship."

Royal fans were delighted when Kate Middleton and Prince William attended church in Sandringham with the Royal Family on Christmas Day. The Princess of Wales was festive in a forest green outfit, while she also twinned with Queen Camilla, who paired a green coat with a matching hat. But according to a body language expert, Kate Middleton required support from her husband, William, in a "moment of concern."

A plethora of royal fans waited in the cold to greet Princess Kate and the rest of the Royal Family. According to body language expert Judi James, Kate became nervous when separated from William outside of the church. The Princess of Wales allegedly had an "unsmiling expression," perhaps due to "tiredness or a moment of concern," James told the Daily Mail. Luckily, Prince William was nearby and able to show his ongoing support for his wife.

"She looked across at William and they exchanged a glance that came with an 'ignited smile,' meaning her expression responded to his grin with an instant and wide smile of her own," James told the outlet. The body language expert described Kate's sweet reaction to seeing her husband as "perhaps the biggest body language cue of the current relationship."

"His strongest moment of support here came at a distance," James said. She continued, "Kate went out to greet the fans looking genuinely happy and touched." The Prince of Wales' ability to support his wife, even from afar, showed that he continues to "embrace, cherish and protect" her after a tumultuous year.

"We've seen William having to be more hands-off with Kate, taking his usual family spot of being along the other end of the line, and watching on Christmas Day as Kate became consumed by the crowds who were all waiting to offer her hugs of their own," James noted.

Royal fans gathered at Sandringham on Christmas Day where they showered Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, and Prince George with gifts. Meanwhile, those same fans clamored to speak to Princess Kate, and she even joked that she'd "lost" her family after losing sight of them in the crowd.

Christmas Day was extremely busy for Kate Middleton and her family, as they all attended church at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham. While the Princess of Wales wore a festive green coat, and twinned with Queen Camilla, Kate's children were showered with gifts from a crowd of people outside the church. And Kate, too, found herself surrounded by royal fans, all of whom wanted to celebrate the Princess' return to the spotlight after a challenging year.

Back in March, Princess Kate revealed that she'd been diagnosed with cancer. In October, the Princess of Wales announced she'd completed chemotherapy, and would be gradually returning to her official royal duties. As a result, Kate was extremely popular with royal fans who'd gathered to greet the Royal Family on Christmas Day.

In fact, Princess Kate became so distracted while being swarmed by royal fans, she lost track of her children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. "I seem to have lost my family," she joked to the crowd, per the Daily Mail. Luckily, the three little royals were standing safely with their dad, Prince William. They were photographed smiling while carrying a huge array of presents.

Many well-wishers were keen to celebrate Kate's recovery from cancer. One individual, Louis Beauchamp, traveled from Paris to Sandringham, hoping to speak to the Princess of Wales for a second time. "I had an unforgettable interaction with Catherine," the teacher told People, having met Kate in May 2023. "She told me she was trying to get her kids to speak more French and urged me to keep up the hard work with my students."

Beauchamp continued, "Unfortunately, when she announced she was suffering from cancer, I knew we would not be seeing her in public for a very long time." He continued, "Sandringham was the best opportunity for me. So, I booked a trip and went there to show I was still there to support her and always will."

The teacher even presented Princess Kate with a bespoke scarf on Christmas Day, telling the outlet, "She thanked me very much and said it was wonderful and so kind of me to have come again." He continued, "She was as genuine and close to people as I remembered. She seemed so happy to be with us again. You could tell she was truly touched."

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis attended church in Sandringham on Christmas Day alongside their parents, Kate Middleton and Prince William. After the service, the Prince and Princess of Wales' children met with royal fans outside who showered them with a plethora of sweet gifts in honor of the holiday.

All eyes were on Princess Kate before the church service at St. Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, as the royal arrived wearing a perfectly festive forest green coat and matching hat. Kate also twinned with Queen Camilla for the occasion, with the pair opting to wear subtly different shades of green for the holiday. But it was the Princess of Wales' children who became the center of attention with royal fans who were patiently waiting to meet them.

Photos showed Louis, Charlotte, and George leaving the gathering with armfuls of stuffed toys, candy, flowers, and books. Prince Louis was even handed a Santa Claus-themed headband from one individual, per the Daily Mail. Unsurprisingly, the little royals appeared to be delighted with their Christmas Day haul.

Louis, Charlotte, and George's father, Prince William, was photographed laughing and smiling at the crowd while carrying many gifts of his own. Clearly, royal fans were extremely excited to meet members of the Royal Family on Christmas Day.

It was previously reported that Prince William might be having a slightly awkward Christmas in 2024, after it was revealed that Queen Camilla's children would be spending the holiday at Sandringham. As for why the Prince of Wales wouldn't necessarily be looking forward to spending the holiday with Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, The Sun, shared an excerpt from Katie Nicholl's 2010 book, William and Harry. "William and Laura used to have terrible fights over who was to blame for their broken homes," Nicholl explained.

The excerpt continued, "William would blame Camilla for all the hurt she had caused his mother [Princess Diana], which would send Laura into a rage... Laura was not having any of it. She would take a hard line and fire back at William, 'Your father has ruined my life.'"

The Royal Family attended their annual Christmas Day church service in Sandringham this morning. For the occasion, Princess Kate and Queen Camilla opted to twin in matching green coats and hats. They both completed their outfits with black handbags and black heeled suede boots.

Although Queen Camilla and Kate Middleton's outfits were slightly different shades of green, they both looked extremely festive for the occasion. Camilla and Kate arrived for the service alongside King Charles, Prince William, and the three Wales children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

The royals were greeted by a huge crowd of well-wishers, some of whom had reportedly waited for hours for the family's arrival.

Earlier this month, Princess Kate hosted her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. In a particularly poignant moment during the service, British actress Sophie Okonedo read Jackie Kay's poem, The Kindness Of Trees. As reported by the Daily Mail, Prince Louis "appeared to be looking at his mother Kate to gauge her reaction" to the poem. Photos taken at the event show an adorable exchange between Kate and her youngest son, who looks up at her while she gives him a sweet smile.

Much has been said about how the Royal Family plans to spend Christmas in 2024. It was recently reported that both of Queen Camilla's children, Laura and Tom Parker Bowles, will be in attendance at Sandringham for Christmas. Some sources have suggested that Prince William would snub his father's Christmas celebration if Tom attended.

"William doesn’t much like Camilla, despite having made peace with his father’s choices, and is made nervous by Tom’s somewhat louche lifestyle," a so-called insider told the Daily Beast back in October. As for how William may feel about his step-sister, The Sun referred to a juicy excerpt from Katie Nicholl's 2010 book, William and Harry. "William and Laura used to have terrible fights over who was to blame for their broken homes," Nicholl wrote.

The excerpt continued, "William would blame Camilla for all the hurt she had caused his mother [Princess Diana], which would send Laura into a rage." According to the royal expert, Laura wasn't happy with William's accusations, and had some of her own. "She would take a hard line and fire back at William, 'Your father has ruined my life,'" Nicholl explained.

Kate Middleton has arrived at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on Christmas morning for the Royal Family's annual service. For the festive event, she wore a long dark green coat, which she paired with a matching hat, a blue and green tartan scarf, and black suede heeled boots.

Princess Kate chose to rewear a Gina Foster hat, which she first debuted on St. Patrick's day in 2014. Of course, the royal is known for recycling wardrobe items for multiple events.

The Princess of Wales arrived alongside her husband, Prince William, and their three children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. The Wales family followed behind King Charles and Queen Camilla as the royals arrived for their traditional church service.

It was recently revealed that Princess Kate allegedly regretted the outfit she wore for Christmas Day in 2019. As usual, royal fans admired Kate's chic outfit, which consisted of a gray Catherine Walker coat featuring a fluffy collar, a forest green hat, a matching clutch, and suede pumps.

However, the weather was "unseasonably warm" on Christmas Day in 2019, according to The Mirror, meaning Kate was likely overdressed for the occasion. The Princess of Wales even shared her discomfort with a royal fan named Rachel Anvil. "Kate was talking to my daughter about clothes and how she was feeling too hot," Rachel's mom, Karen, revealed to Metro. "She said, 'I really shouldn’t have worn this.'" Karen continued, "I’m there talking to [Princess] Charlotte about dolls and my daughter's talking about fashion with Kate. It wasn't fake it was a genuine discussion, it was about a minute but it was tailored to my daughter, it was like speaking to a friend."

Earlier this month, Prince William shared how his family will be celebrating the holiday season in 2024. "We'll be in Norfolk, at Sandringham," he said at a Christmas party for the families of members of the 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, via People. "We'll be 45 for Christmas. It won't be quiet, it will be noisy."

Meanwhile, royal experts have claimed that this Christmas will be different from previous years, particularly as both Princess Kate and King Charles have recently undergone treatment for cancer. "After the year they've had, I'm sure it's going to mean the world to The King and Queen to have as many of their family as possible joining them for Christmas," former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond told OK! magazine. "And, as the number of youngsters increases, so the celebrations become more and more child oriented. Which is exactly what Christmas should be all about."

Like many families around the world, the British royals have a packed house during the Christmas season. Prince William recently shared that 45 people were coming to the Sandringham estate for the holidays this year, and even more relatives were added to the guest list after his admission. Space is at such a premium, in fact, that one year, The Queen's own daughter had to seek alternative sleeping arrangements.

Sandringham House, located in the Norfolk countryside, was described by Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward as “small by royal standards" in a recent interview with OK! magazine. While the estate boasts numerous cottages on its approximately 20,000 acres of property, the main house has 29 bedrooms—which sounds like a lot until you have close to 50 people coming for Christmas.

“Guests often have to stay in vacated servants’ quarters or cottages in the grounds. But if The King beckons, people go, so it’s up to him," Seward said. It's so tight at Sandringham that no-nonsense Princess Anne once took matters into her own hands.

"One year, there were so many people, Princess Anne pitched up with a caravan that she used at horse shows and she stayed in that," the royal editor revealed. Classic Anne behavior at its best.

Some royals, like Prince William and Princess Kate, are lucky enough to have their own place to stay; the Prince and Princess of Wales were gifted Anmer Hall, a gorgeous country house on the Sandringham estate, by the late Queen Elizabeth.

Once everyone is settled in there's a full regime of merriment including presents to open on Christmas Eve and a rather posh buffet dinner. It's an experience Princess Diana once called "terrifying and so disappointing." However, it seems like the schedule has loosened up at least a little bit under King Charles's rule.

“The schedule still exists and it’s really quite exhausting,” author Robert Hardman told OK! “One minute you’re doing one thing, then you have to change for drinks, then get changed again for dinner. There’s a lot going on and formality and routine is part of that. But it’s not the military-style operation that Prince Philip oversaw."

The royal biographer continued, "Back then, if you weren’t where you were supposed to be at the correct time, there was trouble! The King is less rigid so there’s more fluidity with timings."

With another full house this year (minus Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson), it sounds like Anne might have to keep that caravan at the ready.

Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson won't be traveling to Sandringham to spend Christmas with the Royal Family. And according to one royal expert, King Charles is likely feeling quite sad that the Duchess of York won't be in attendance.

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond discussed Ferguson's decision to withdraw from visiting Sandringham for Christmas in an interview with OK! (via GB News). "This will be a blow for Fergie," she explained. "She was so effusive last Christmas and was clearly delighted to be included in the family festivities after so many years in exile."

However, Ferguson has continually made it clear that she will stand by Prince Andrew, no matter what. So if the Duke of York is required to take a step back from official royal events, it seems that Ferguson will continue do the same. "But her loyalty has always been to Andrew and she will stick by his side... wherever they spend the day," Bond explained.

It's been reported that the Duke and Duchess of York are planning to spend Christmas at their home, Royal Lodge in Windsor.

Bond also noted that the monarch is likely to be sad that Ferguson can't attend his Christmas party at Sandringham. "I think The King has a soft spot for Fergie, especially after their shared cancer experience," the royal correspondent explained. "She always brings a spot of fun to proceedings." Bond continued, "So he will probably be a little sad that she will now stay away from Sandringham, to stand shoulder to shoulder with her ex."

Royal editor Rebecca English recently appeared on Mail+'s "Palace Confidential," where she sang Ferguson's praises, particularly following Andrew's scandals. "Sarah, the Duchess of York has literally saved Christmas for the Royal Family," English said. "If it hadn't have been for his ex-wife having a quiet word in his ear," then the holiday season could have been pretty disastrous."

The Royal Family's traditional Christmas gathering at Sandringham has made more headlines than usual this year amid Prince Andrew's latest scandal. But while it was reported last week that Andrew and the rest of his family wouldn't be coming to Norfolk for the holidays, it seems there's been a change in plans. Princess Beatrice, her husband and their two children will be heading to Sandringham after all—but with a slight change in tradition.

As confirmed by several media outlets, pregnant Princess Beatrice—who was supposed to travel to Italy to spend Christmas with husband Edoardo "Edo" Mapelli Mozzi's family—has been advised by doctors not to travel the long distance for health reasons. She'll now be spending Christmas with the rest of the Royal Family, minus her father and mom Sarah Ferguson, who backed out of the gathering after the Duke of York was connected to suspected "Chinese spy" Yang Tengbo.

Princess Beatrice's 3-year-old daughter, Sienna, and 8-year-old stepson, Wolfie, are also set to join in the celebrations.

However, royal fans excited to get a glimpse at the princess's maternity fashion might be disappointed to hear that they might not get a glimpse of her on Christmas Day. People reported that the princess "likely won’t participate in the walk to church," while according to Hello!, young Sienna will not attend the service.

As the outlet noted, Prince Louis joined the family at church for the first time when he was four. Princess Charlotte also made her Sandringham walk debut at the same age, so perhaps Sienna will join in next year.

The addition of Beatrice and her family brings the Sandringham guest list to nearly 50 people this year after Prince William recently told guests at a military Christmas party that the royals would welcome 45 people to their Norfolk estate this year.

Buckingham Palace announced Princess Beatrice's second pregnancy on Oct. 1 while sharing some sweet photos of Beatrice and her family in the process. "Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice and Mr. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi are very pleased to announce that they are expecting their second child together in early spring; a sibling for Wolfie, aged eight, and Sienna, aged three," the statement read.

Here's hoping for a quiet and happy Christmas for the second-time mum-to-be.

With some rather unusual rules, multiple wardrobe changes a day and dozens of family members under the same roof, navigating a royal Christmas would intimidate even the most unflappable guest. When it came to celebrating the holidays at Sandringham, former royal butler Paul Burrell tells Marie Claire that Princess Diana, unsurprisingly, wasn't the biggest fan.

No matter how much Diana dreaded going to the annual Christmas festivities, Burrell—who worked for the late princess from 1987 to 1997—says "she knew that was her duty."

"Christmas for her was her duty to be there with her Harry and William and estranged husband, and the Royal Family," the former butler, speaking on behalf of Spin Genie, shares. "She was still a member of the Royal Family in those days and she had to grin and bear it."

Burrell, who tells Marie Claire Princess Diana would insist he spend the holiday with his own family, says, "Unfortunately, she had very sad Christmases."

"She would escape it as soon as she could but there were huge personalities in there she couldn’t cope with," Burrell says of the atmosphere at Sandringham.

It's no wonder Diana found it difficult; during the earlier years Burrell worked for the princess, her marriage was falling apart. Add in piles of in-laws you don't necessarily gel with and a packed schedule of activities, and it's a recipe for festive disaster.

"It’s like a pressure cooker, Sandringham at Christmas, of people and emotion," Burrell adds. "Some can stand it, some can’t. Diana couldn’t stand it."

Once Charles and Diana split and she no longer had to celebrate Christmas with the royals, Burell tells Marie Claire the princess would spend the holiday alone. "It’s not a day she really relished or looked forward to because she didn’t have anyone with her to enjoy that day with," he explains.

"I think it would have changed over time," Burrell adds, musing that perhaps with "a different generation" she might've been able to take part. Instead, the late royal would celebrate Christmas with Prince William and Prince Harry "the weekend before."

He shares one particularly hilarious (and awkward) story about Diana giving Prince William a racy gag gift in his stocking "to make him blush."

As for Sandringham in 2024, Prince William recently told guests at a military Christmas party that the Royal Family is expecting 45 people for their annual holiday celebration. However, it seems like he might share at least some of his mother's feelings about the big party, revealing that the one thing he's looking forward to is "long walks with the family dog" in the Norfolk countryside.

Princess Kate and Prince William's romance first started while they were both studying at St Andrews in Scotland. Their relationship was far from a secret, though the young couple apparently enjoyed some discreet weekend getaways. However, as a royal, it's unlikely Prince William went unrecognized during these trips. Still, the prince apparently used some unexpected monikers in an attempt to fly under the radar.

In his new book, Catherine, the Princess of Wales: A Biography of the Future Queen, royal expert Robert Jobson writes (via the Daily Mail), "For weekends and holidays, he'd often whisk Catherine off to Highgrove or Sandringham or to a cottage on the Balmoral estate." However, the young couple would also stay in hotels, but they'd attempt to disguise their identities when doing so. "Occasionally they checked into hotels using the names Mr and Mrs Smith—which doubtless fooled no one," Jobson wrote.

As well as using pseudonyms for romantic hotel stays, Prince William apparently tried out other names during his college life. "In 2001, William quietly slipped into undergraduate life at St Andrews, where he used the pseudonym 'Steve' in a rather pathetic attempt to stay under the radar," Jobson explained. Of course, it's more than likely most of his fellow students recognized the prince immediately. Still, it seems that Prince William is a fan of having secret identities.

Jobson isn't the first royal expert to discuss Prince William's love of fake names. In his book William and Catherine, royal biographer Andrew Morton revealed (via the Mirror) that Kate and William visited the Seychelles together in 2007. "Kate and William, under the assumed names of Martin and Rose Middleton, bid farewell to the paradise island of Desroches in the Outer Seychelles where they had spent a sublime week renewing their love affair," Morton wrote. Clearly, the Prince and Princess of Wales enjoy their privacy, and they aren't afraid to use fake names from time to time.

When Meghan Markle spent her first Christmas at Sandringham with the royal family in 2017, it marked a break in tradition for the family. Meghan and Prince Harry had just announced their engagement the month prior, on November 27 of that year, and were obviously not yet married (that would come in May 2018); generally, only spouses of members of the royal family are invited to Sandringham, where the royal family traditionally spends Christmas every year. For Meghan, though, they made an exception.

A few days after the holiday, Harry revealed to BBC Radio 4’s Today show that that his then fiancée had a “fantastic” time with his family over Christmas: “The family loved having her there,” he said. “I think together we had an amazing time.”

He added, per Hello, “We had great fun staying with my brother and sister-in-law and running ‘round with the kids.” (My how times have changed.) 

Harry was further asked if there were any family traditions that had to be explained to Meghan. “Oh, plenty,” Harry said. “I think we’ve got one of the biggest families that I know of, and every family is complex, as well. No, look, she’s done an absolutely amazing job. She’s getting in there and it’s the family I suppose that she’s never had.”

Harry caught some flak for that last comment at the time, but what he likely meant was the large family that Meghan never had—Meghan is an only child by her parents, Thomas Markle and Doria Ragland, and they divorced when she was young. 

Last year, in their Netflix docuseries Harry & Meghan, Meghan herself opened up about her first Christmas at Sandringham and how she was seated next to Harry’s grandfather, Prince Philip, who would have been 96 at the time. “At dinner, I was sat next to H’s grandfather, and I just thought it was so wonderful, and I was like, ‘Oh, we chatted, and it was so great, and I talked about this and talked about this,’” Meghan said. Pretty hilariously, Harry later told Meghan that she “had his bad ear,” to which Meghan replied “Oh, well, I thought it went really well.”

Meghan said, “I remember so vividly the first Christmas at Sandringham, calling my mom, and she’s like, ‘How’s it going?’ and I said, ‘Oh my gosh, it’s amazing.’ It’s just like a big family like I always wanted. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun.”

Meghan unknowingly started a new tradition of members of the royal family being able to bring partners they were not yet married to. For example, Kate Middleton was not invited to join the family at Sandringham for Christmas 2010, despite already being engaged to Prince William. Rugby player Mike Tindall was also not invited to join the family during his engagement to Zara Phillips, Princess Anne’s daughter, also in 2010. (Mike and Zara married in July 2011, three months after William and Kate.)

That said, in 2019, two years after Meghan’s first Christmas with the royal family, Princess Beatrice’s then-fiancé Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi was allowed to join in the festivities, despite not officially being a part of the family. (Bea and Edo married that next summer.)

“Whether there was an unwritten rule about the royals’ girlfriends and boyfriends being invited to Christmas before marriage we’ll never know, but it certainly seems to have been relaxed in recent years,” said Hello’s online royal correspondent Danielle Stacey. “If you think of modern families now and how many couples choose to cohabit for a long time before marriage, it’s a reflection of modern society that Meghan and Edoardo were invited to join the royals for Christmas Day before their weddings. It’s also an opportunity for newer members to get to know the royals in a more intimate setting. We know that the Windsors sit down for a formal dinner on Christmas Eve after exchanging presents, and then there’s a traditional turkey dinner on Christmas Day, followed by a day of outdoor pursuits, including shooting and long walks, on Boxing Day [December 26].”

Unfortunately, after what seemed like a pretty delightful Christmas in 2017 with the royal family, Meghan (and Harry) would only spend one more Christmas at Sandringham—the next year, 2018, when Meghan was pregnant with Prince Archie. For the next five Christmases (including, likely, this one), Harry and Meghan would be elsewhere for the holiday, particularly after stepping back as working members of the royal family in January 2020.