LONDON – It has been a long-standing, if light-hearted, tradition for generations of Royals when they gather at Sandringham for their annual Christmas celebrations.
When Prince William becomes King however, it is understood that he will scrap an outdated ceremony which involves handing out ‘joke’ £5 presents in strict order of royal seniority.
The ‘antiquated’ game involves the cheap gifts being handed out by King Charles – and previously, by his mother the late Queen – from a specially-assembled trestle-table in a ritual which perfectly captures the Windsor pecking order.
While senior royals receive their gifts first, more junior royals are forced to wait patiently as the pile diminishes. Sources say that while the understated nature of the gifts is likely to remain, any ‘hierarchical’ traditions – which have never been popular with the Prince of Wales as he continues to take his cues from the more relaxed Middleton family – are expected to be among the first things to go when it’s finally his turn to host.
A source said: ‘‘While William’s mind is on much bigger changes than just the trestle table, it’s well known to be one of those antiquated traditions that he’s never really taken to.
‘‘You can expect that to be one of the first things to go when he eventually hosts his first Sandringham Christmas.’’ The Royal family’s festive gathering has always run on a strict, and quietly rigid hierarchy – completely at odds to the easy, informal gatherings William and Catherine are known to prefer at Anmer Hall with the Middletons.
Friends say the couple enjoy the Middleton-style ‘family chaos’ present opening rather than Sandringham’s more orchestrated festivities.
Dinner at Sandringham on Christmas Eve is black tie and held to a precise schedule, with seating plans dictated by rank. While Christmas lunch itself has no formal seating plan, the Royals come to the table from their rooms – which are arranged according to their status.
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