Princess Diana struggled to adapt to Christmas with the Royal Family. This was especially reflected in the amount of times royals are expected to change outfits on the big day. It is something Diana has been said to have found overwhelming.
Former royal butler Paul Burrell, who worked in the British Royal Household and latterly butler to Princess Diana, spoke on Channel 4’s A Very Royal Christmas: Sandringham Secrets.
He said: “You get up in one thing, then you have to change for church.
“You might change for lunch. You might then change to go for a walk in the afternoon. And then you will change for dinner.”
Another royal expert, Richard Kay, added: “It can be quite exhausting.
“It was one of the unbending rituals that both Princess Diana and the Duchess of York found quite hard to adjust to.”
The Royal Family spend Christmas at Sandringham. Like most British families, it is the biggest holiday of the year and it is celebrated as such.
Steeped in tradition and huge generational wealth, the royal Christmas is unlike any other.
Besides the occasion Meghan Markle spent Christmas there while engaged to Prince Harry, it has been the case royal spouses spend their first Christmas at Sandringham after marrying into the family.
This was certainly the case for Princess Diana and later her friend and contemporary Sarah Feguson.
A royal Christmas is very different to the average British Christmas.
This includes in terms of wardrobe.
While many open their presents in PJs before dressing in Christmas jumpers, this is not the case for the British Royal Family.
Fashion fans still look out for Kate Middleton’s Christmas Day look as the family head to Church.
It has been claimed Diana received harsh words from the Queen Mother at Sandringham one Christmas.
This came after Diana’s divorce from Charles, when the Princess of Wales continued to visit Sandringham for Christmas to see her sons.
Journalist Richard Kay said: “I mean, she was not welcome at Sandringham.
“I remember her telling me on the first occasion she went the Queen Mother looked at her and raised an eyebrow and said, ‘I didn’t think we’d see you again’.
“Under that kind of pressure you have to be quite a tough character and I think she found it extremely hard, but she took a deep breath and she got through it.”
On Christmas the Royal Family eat vast amounts of food.
There is a large breakfast before church, followed by the traditional Christmas lunch, with a starter, main and dessert.
For many families this would be enough, but the royals then enjoy two more meals.
There is afternoon tea with cakes and then a buffet with 15 to 20 dishes.
This includes roast ham, turkey and rib roast, as well as seafood, veggies, gingerbread and another Christmas pudding.
