King Charles is set to have a quieter Christmas this year, as Queen Camilla plans to divide her time between the Royal Family and her own relatives. According to Entertainment Daily, the Queen Consort will join Charles and other royals at Sandringham for Christmas Day celebrations but will leave afterward to visit her family in Wiltshire.
Adding to the solitary tone for Charles, Prince William, and Kate Middleton are also expected to leave Sandringham after lunch to continue their celebrations privately at Anmer Hall with their children, former royal butler Paul Burrell revealed.
“This division of Christmas is becoming more and more obvious,” Burrell explained. “Although Camilla will be at Sandringham, she may well appear on the front steps of the church, walk back to the house, and have Christmas lunch. But as soon as lunch is over, Camilla is off.”
Burrell noted that Camilla prioritizes spending time with her children and grandchildren, who are not included in the royal festivities at Sandringham. “She goes back to Wiltshire to see her family—her grandchildren, children, and their spouses. It’s a split Christmas for Camilla, just like it is for many others.”
Discussing how the King plans to spend the remainder of the day, Burrell shared, “The King will be alone with a few friends on Christmas Day afternoon.” He emphasized that the Royal Family’s holiday traditions are evolving, reflecting more modern and independent lifestyles.
“William and Kate will go back to Anmer Hall and enjoy Christmas with their family unit under their own roof, not under the roof of Sandringham,” Burrell added. “They’re becoming a thoroughly modern royal family and doing things more like we do them.”
The changing dynamics highlight the Royal Family’s efforts to balance tradition with personal connections, particularly as Charles navigates his first holiday season as monarch. While the split celebrations might seem unconventional for the royals, they mirror the realities of many families balancing time between different households during the festive season.