Christmas is coming early for Queen Camilla.
For the first time ever, the Queen’s children and grandchildren will be in the building at Sandringham for the royal family’s annual Christmas festivities.
For decades the tradition has been for members of the royal family to walk to church at St. Mary Magdalene for a Christmas Day service, followed by a return to the Sandringham House for a festive lunch.
But this year, change is in the air. The 76-year-old Queen’s children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, as well as other members of the Queen’s family will join the lunch for the first time this year, according to the ITV report from royals editor Chris Ship.
“The guest list of those attending Christmas lunch back at Sandringham House is being radically altered,” says Ship, “and will include many members of Queen Camilla’s family for the first time.”
During an interview with People, royal biographer Ingrid Seward predicted that Queen Camilla would begin to play a large role in hosting the holiday festivities following Queen Elizabeth’s death saying Camilla “will be a real presence” and “can’t have [Charles] hosting his first Christmas on his own.”
“Charles has always been very, very fond of Sandringham,” Seward added. “Christmas within any family is always about tradition. He will keep it the same as it ever was.”
In addition to Bowles, 48, and Lopes, 45, the guest list is said to include the Queen’s five grandchildren —Lola, Freddy, Eliza, Louis, and Gus.
Prince Andrew, 63, and Sarah Ferguson, 64 will also join the festivities but will reportedly stay at Wood Farm on the Sandringham estate along with her daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and any of their children who might be there for the holidays.
The Queen’s sister Annabel Elliot who is one of her “companions” and officially helps with official engagements and events will be on hand to make sure all festivities occur without a hitch.
As usual, King Charles, Prince William and Kate Middleton, as well as their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will all make the traditional walk.
The bigger guest list means that the family may need to sot down for lunch in a bigger dining room, and may sit in a bigger ballroom
King Charles’ son Prince Harry and daughter-in-law Meghan Markle aren’t likely to attend the Christmas gathering in the U.K.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have not spent Christmas with the royals since 2018.
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