In this lavishly illustrated special edition, People takes you inside the British royal family’s holiday traditions and customs, many carried from the Victorian era to today. From the Christmas plays that Queen Elizabeth appeared in as a child with her sister Margaret, to Prince Harry’s Christmas in Afghanistan, and Prince William and Princess Kate’s next generation traditions with their kids. Visit the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, that has played host to many a family celebration, go behind the scenes of the Queen’s annual Christmas Day address, and discover what it takes to deck the halls of a castle. Plus: the Windsors' holiday cards, their tradition of giving gag gifts, and a former palace chef’s recipe for plum pudding.
CHRISTMAS WITH THE QUEEN • A ROYAL FAMILY HOLIDAY ALBUM
HOW THEY HOLIDAY • OLD TRADITIONS AND NEW JOYS MARK CHRISTMASTIME FOR THE WINDSORS
THE PRINCESSES’ HOLIDAYS • KING GEORGE VI’S DAUGHTERS LILIBET AND MARGARET ROSE PUT ON PLAYS TO SPREAD JOY AT WARTIME
THE QUEEN’S SPEECH • FROM RADIO TO TV, AND IN GOOD TIMES OR BAD, THE SOVEREIGN’S ANNUAL CHRISTMAS DAY BROADCAST GOES ON
TO GRANDMOTHERS HOUSE WE GO • COUNTRY RETREAT SANDRINGHAM IS STEPS AWAY FROM ST. MARY MAGDALENE CHURCH, WHERE THE FAMILY ATTENDS SERVICES
HOLIDAY BEST
DECK THE HALLS • WHAT IT TAKES TO DECORATE A PALACE FOR THE SEASON—AND HOW QUEEN VICTORIA STARTED A TREE TREND
DIANA’S BOYS: HOLIDAY JOYS • WHILE HONORING SOME GRAND ROYAL TRADITIONS, WILLIAM AND HARRY’S MUM MADE SURE THEY LOOKED FORWARD TO THE ORDINARY DELIGHTS OF CHRISTMAS WITH THE SAME ENTHUSIASM AS ANY KIDS
GLAD TIDINGS • THE WINDSORS WORK YEAR-ROUND FOR FAVORITE CAUSES, FROM EDUCATION TO CONSERVATION, BUT MOST ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOLIDAYS
SEASONAL TREATS • AS THE WINDSORS NEAR CHRISTMAS, VISIONS OF SUGARPLUMS DANCE IN THEIR HEADS. PLUS: A PALACE CHEF’S PUDDING RECIPE
MERRY & BRIGHT • HOLIDAYS WITH THE CAMBRIDGES ARE KID-FOCUSED—AND TRADITIONAL. COUNT ON WILL AND KATE TO KEEP UP THE OLD-FASHIONED CHRISTMAS CUSTOMS
UNDER THE TREE: GAG GIFTS
NEW WORLD HOLIDAYS • GIVING UP ROYAL DUTIES AND TRADITIONS, HARRY & MEGHAN USED THEIR FIRST CHRISTMAS AS PARENTS TO MOVE THE CELEBRATION TO NORTH AMERICA
A CENTURY OF CHRISTMAS CARDS
CREDITS
People
