There is one royal tradition that goes back more than a century that Princess Kate is reported to be pretty keen to get rid of, because she has never been a fan of it
During the festive season, the eyes of the public regularly turn to the Royal Family, and in particular the monarch’s annual Christmas message to the nation. The House of Windsor always attends church together on Christmas Day itself, meeting with members of the public during a walkabout on their way to and from St. Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham – and this year is likely to be no exception.
A more recent Christmas tradition implemented by the royals came from Princess Kate – who has started putting on an annual Christmas carol concert in recent years. After a year of health challenges and remaining out of the public eye, Kate’s dedication to the carol concert means it will be one of her only official engagements this year.
A report has claimed that this isn’t the only new approach Kate hopes to instigate when it comes to the House of Windsor’s Christmas traditions, with the future Queen hoping to axe one centuries-old royal tradition that she has dubbed “weird”.
The tradition Kate hopes to get rid of in the future is the exchanging of gifts on Christmas Eve, something the Royal Family has been doing since Queen Victoria was on the throne – who reigned from 1837 until 1901. The tradition of swapping presents on Christmas Eve is in line with the Royal Family’s German heritage, and they helped popularise another festive German tradition during Victoria’s reign: Christmas trees.
Victoria’s husband, Prince Albert, was a major force in making Christmas trees in the UK a commonplace sight, although the very first royal to introduce the custom was actually another German export – Queen Charlotte in 1800. The late Queen Elizabeth is reported to have enjoyed the practice of exchanging presents with her family on Christmas Eve in part because she had so much admiration for her ancestor, Queen Victoria, but also because the former monarch was a dedicated Christian and preferred Christmas Day itself to be focussed on the religious aspects of the festival, rather than material items.
However, per the Daily Beast, Kate simply isn’t a fan. “Kate has always found the presents on Christmas Eve thing weird,” a source told the publication.
“It is definitely going to be got rid of when they are officially running things. I imagine it will continue this year at Sandringham in some shape or form but everything is going to be much more relaxed and have a middle-class flavor at Anmer Hall. You can bet your bottom dollar they will be doing proper presents for each other and the kids there on Christmas Day.”
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