Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have revealed a lot they didn’t like about how things are done in the royal family, but the way they celebrate Christmas isn’t one of them. Meghan described her first celebration at Sandringham in 2017 as “amazing” and “wonderful.”
In the Sussexes’ Netflix docuseries, the duchess recalled: “I remember so vividly, the first Christmas at Sandringham. Calling my mum and she’s like ‘How’s it going’ and I was like ‘Oh my gosh, it’s amazing.’”
The former Suits star continued: “It’s just like a big family like I always wanted. And there was just this constant movement and energy and fun. At dinner, I was sat next to H’s grandfather [Prince Philip] and I just thought it was so wonderful.”
Given the nice memories they have, it makes sense that Harry and Meghan would want to keep a tradition the family does during the holidays every year. Read on to find out what that is and why another royal wishes the family didn’t do it.
Prince William, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service with the rest of the royal family | Chris Jackson/Getty Images
The 1 royal tradition Prince Harry has kept even after moving to the U.S.
Prince Harry shared in his memoir Spare what tradition he and Meghan still celebrate each year.
The Duke of Sussex explained that they have continued to follow the tradition of opening gifts on Christmas Eve, which is in line with the king’s German ancestry.
Describing how they celebrated the holiday after moving abroad, Harry wrote: “It was Christmas Eve. We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain. We watched Archie running around the tree. And we opened presents. Keeping to the Windsor family tradition.”
Opening gifts the night before goes back to the family’s German side and was set during Queen Victoria’s reign from 1837 to 1901. She and Prince Albert were insistent on doing so as a nod to their German heritage. The custom was upheld for centuries as the late Queen Elizabeth II didn’t mind it since it kept the focus of Christmas Day on its spiritual meaning, rather than presents.
Harry’s in-law wants to do away with the tradition
Prince Harry and Kate Middleton visit Christmas party for volunteers at The Mix youth service in London | Alastair Grant – WPA Pool/Getty Images
Someone who isn’t a fan of the gift-giving on Christmas Eve is Harry’s sister-in-law, the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton), as she prefers to open presents on Christmas Day.
A source close to the princess said: “Kate has always found the presents on Christmas Eve thing weird. It is definitely going to be got rid of when [she and Prince William] are officially running things.
“I imagine it will continue this year at Sandringham in some shape or form but everything is going to be much more relaxed and have a middle-class flavour at Anmer Hall. You can bet your bottom dollar [the Waleses] will be doing proper presents for each other and the kids there on Christmas Day.”
