King Charles is set to host the royal family’s annual pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace this year, marking a change from Windsor Castle, where the gathering has been held for the past two years. The event will bring together extended members of the royal family who are unable to attend the Christmas festivities at Sandringham.
GOOD MORNING! reports that the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Royal, Mike and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie are among the expected guests. The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children may also attend, depending on whether they plan to retreat to Anmer Hall in Norfolk for the school holidays.
The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousins, including the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, will also likely join the celebration. Guests can expect a traditional royal gathering with around seven tables, as described by Mike Tindall in 2019, who revealed that children typically dine separately in their own rooms.
This year’s event comes amid renewed scrutiny of Prince Andrew, who is expected to make a low-key appearance due to his alleged ties to a Chinese businessman accused of espionage. Last week, the Duke of York addressed the controversy, saying he had “ceased all contact” with the individual when concerns about national security were first raised.
The pre-Christmas lunch is a much-loved royal tradition, providing the monarch with the opportunity to welcome the extended family before smaller celebrations take place at Sandringham. King Charles’ decision to move the event to Buckingham Palace reflects his ongoing efforts to modernize and adapt royal traditions.
