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| The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, then-Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Lady Louise Windsor on Christmas Day 2017. Image from Wikimedia Commons |
Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip will have to break some Christmas family traditions as part of COVID-19 protocols to ensure the safety of the nonagenarian royals. For the first time since 1988, the queen and the Duke of Edinburgh will spend Christmas at Windsor Castle and not Sandringham, where the Royal Family traditionally gathers for the holidays.
According to a spokeswoman, after considering "all the appropriate advice," the royal couple decided it would be best to "quietly" spend Christmas at their Berkshire residence.
Since the onset of the pandemic in March, the 94-year-old queen has lived in relative seclusion with the 99-year-old duke at Windsor Castle together with an undersized household staff.
"Like everyone they hope things will get back to normal in 2021," a palace spokesman said.
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall, meanwhile, will spend December 25 at Highgrove, their estate in Gloucestershire. Afterwards, they are expected to visit the Queen and Prince Philip at Windsor. The duchess also plans to see her family.
On the other hand, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children are believed to spend Christmas with the Middletons in their Buckleberry home.
As for the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, since they are unable to fly back to the United Kingdom due to COVID-19 restrictions, the couple will most likely spend the holidays in their sprawling Santa Barbara home together with 18-month-old baby Archie and Doria Ragland, the duchess’ mother.
In the United Kingdom, Christmas coronavirus guidelines allow three households to form "bubbles". That means three families could stay together over a five-day period from December 23 to December 27.
The royals usually decamp to Sandringham where they spend Christmas Day together. They usually attend a service at St. Mary Magdalene church on Christmas morning, where large crowds usually gather outside the church to greet and catch a glimpse of the Royal Family.
More about the British Royal Family on Christmas on the links below:
Read: Queen Elizabeth II's First Christmas Message
The Christmas Broadcast: An Important Christmas Day Tradition in UK
What is the Queen's Pre-Christmas Lunch at Buckingham Palace
Here's The Queen's Gift to her Employees
Here's How Much Queen Elizabeth Spends on Christmas Gifts
More about the British Royal Family and coronavirus on the links below:
Queen Elizabeth II during the Coronavirus Outbreak
Prince Charle tests positive for coronavirus
Queen Elizabeth II addresses the nation: UK "will succeed" in its fight against COVID-19
"Never give up, never despair": Queen Elizabeth II delivers inspiring message on V-Day
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