The royal family traditionally celebrates Christmas at Sandringham estate. This year, Prince William and the Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Prince Edward, as well as Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie will join the festivities. Additionally, the children and grandchildren of Camilla from her first marriage with their families have been invited, which was unacceptable during the late Queen Elizabeth II's reign. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will still not be present, celebrating in the USA.
This year, the number of guests has significantly increased, so the festive dinner will take place in the banquet hall, unlike previous years when the family gathered in the living room.
It is also worth noting that the tradition of placing a coin in the Christmas pudding is fading away. “This tradition was a nod to the Victorian era, introduced by Prince Albert, the husband of Queen Victoria. It was believed that whoever found the coin in their portion would be lucky in the coming year. However, after an incident where the Queen Mother choked on a fish bone, we decided to abandon this practice, fearing for the health of the guests,” former Windsor chef Darren McGrady said in an interview.
This year, there will be no foie gras on the Christmas table. The duck liver, which was previously one of the main dishes of the Christmas dinner and was obtained through force-feeding the birds, is now excluded. This was reported by the online publication The Mirror.
King Charles III supports animal rights activists, so foie gras is no longer prepared in any of the palaces and is also banned in all places the king visits.
Additionally, Charles is known for his commitment to organic products. This year, the royal family's Christmas dinner will consist of vegetables and fruits grown on organic farms or within the Sandringham estate, which the king has managed since 2017.
