When Does the Royal Family Exchange Christmas Gifts?

Each year at Christmas the royals participate in a number of traditions, some well-known such as attending the annual church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate, to lesser known customs like playing parlor games or exchanging gag gifts.

Many of the royal Christmas traditions have been passed down through the generations, having been set by Queen Victoria and her husband Prince Albert. This royal couple popularized the idea of what is now known as the “Victorian family Christmas,” complete with Christmas trees, shop-bought toys and large family gatherings.

One tradition in particular that the royals have stuck with is the date on which they open their presents. Here, Newsweek looks at what the royals open on the holidays and when they do it.

Windsor Castle Christmas tree photographed November 23, 2017. Prince William, King Charles, Kate Middleton and Prince George, 2022. Jack Taylor/Getty Images/Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images/Chris Jackson – WPA Pool/Getty Images/Karwai Tang/WireImage/ Samir Hussein – Pool/WireImage When Do the Royals Open Their Christmas Gifts?

Members of the royal family do not open their Christmas presents on Christmas Day (December 25) as most households do today, instead they abide by the older European custom of opening gifts on Christmas Eve (December 24).

Most recently it was confirmed that the royals keep this tradition up by Kate Middleton who told Great British Baking Show judge Mary Berry all about it.

In 2019, both Kate and Prince William went head-to-head in competition to see who could decorate a festive yule log cake the best, as part of the BBC’s A Berry Royal Christmas TV special.

While chatting to Berry, Kate explained: “William’s family tradition is to open Christmas presents on Christmas Eve…which is really lovely!”

The tradition has its roots in the royal family’s German heritage. King George I, who reigned from 1714 to 1727, came from the German state of Hanover. Queen Charlotte, who married George III, was also a German born princess from Mecklenburg-Strelitz. Her son Prince Edward married the German born Princess Victoria of Saxe Coburg-Gotha and her daughter Victoria married the German born Prince Albert of Saxe Coburg-Gotha.

In Germany, Christmas celebrations begin on Christmas Eve which include the exchange of gifts.

What Do the Royals Get for Christmas?

During Queen Victoria’s reign, royal Christmas presents were arranged on individual tables at Windsor Castle each topped by a tree. Each family member had their own table and gifts would include toys for the children, art, sculpture, jewelry and clothing.

Today the royal family are well known for exchanging gag gifts at Christmas.

In the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle biography Finding Freedom, authors Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand wrote that the adult royals “all frowned upon lavish presents for one another. Instead, Christmas was an occasion for inexpensive and sometimes humorous gifts.”

The book claims that Harry one year gave his grandmother a shower cap with the words “Aint life a b****” written on it which she greatly enjoyed.

Prince William reportedly once gave the queen a pair of slippers with her face embroidered on them and Princess Anne gave her brother King Charles a leather toilet seat.

Painting of royal family Christmas tables at Windsor Castle, 1850. Queen Victoria and members of her family would have their own tables with individual trees and presents to receive on Christmas eve. Fine Art Images/Heritage Images/Getty Images

Kate Middleton made a more thoughtful handmade round of presents for her first year as a guest for the royal Christmas at Sandringham House in Norfolk.

Speaking in a 2016 interview celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s 90th birthday, Kate explained: “I can remember being at Sandringham, for the first time, at Christmas and I was worried what to give the queen as her Christmas present.

“I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’ I thought back to what I would give my own grandparent and I thought, ‘I’ll make her something,’ which could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney.”

The then-Duchess of Cambridge admitted that she was nervous about whether the queen would like the gift, but revealed: “I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table.

“I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me and I’ve noticed since she’s done that on lots of occasions and I think it just shows her thoughtfulness, really, and her care in looking after everybody.”

This year the royals will celebrate their first Christmas since Queen Elizabeth’s death at Sandringham House as she had done for many years during her reign.

James Crawford-Smith is Newsweek’s royal reporter based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jrcrawfordsmith and read his stories on Newsweek’s The Royals Facebook page.

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