How European royals' Christmases differ from the British Royal Family's traditions

The British Royal Family, including Kate Middleton, 36, Prince William, 36, Meghan Markle, 37, and Prince Harry, 34, will spend Christmas with the Queen on her Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Every year they follow the same traditions which have been followed for decades,including the opening of gifts on Christmas Eve and the exchanging of joke presents only. But how is 25 December different to their European counterparts? From Queen Letizia of Spain to Queen Mary of Denmark – the European royal families all have very unique celebrations.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe

King Felipe, 50, and Queen Letizia, 46, of Spain host an annual Christmas Eve dinner at the Zarzuela Palace for King Felipe’s parents, King Juan Carols and Queen Sofia.

The monarchs’ daughters Leonor, 13, and Infanta Sofia, 11, will wake to find presents under the Christmas tree like all the other lucky children around the world.

Christmas Day also falls on the birthday of the King’s father, Juan Carlos, so the family will have an even bigger celebration for the former sovereign.

Just like the British royal family, Queen Letizia and King Felipe share their annual Christmas card with the public.

This year, the sweet postcard showed the couple with their daughters during a trip to Asturias in northwestern Spain in September. 

It also included a sweet handwritten note saying: “Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2019.”

Queen Mary of Denmark and Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark

Christmas is a huge occasion for Denmark’s Royal Family, including Queen Margrethe, her husband Prince Henrik, their son Frederik, 50, and his wife Queen Mary, 46.

The festivities begin on 23 December and the children put out a bowl of porridge for Santa’s helpers on Christmas Eve.

Their dinner on Christmas Day consists of rice pudding with an almond inside, followed by roast goose or roast pork with browned potatoes and red cabbage.

Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Prince Daniel

Crown Princess Victoria, 41, and her husband Prince Daniel, 45, often share videos of their Christmas traditions, previously sharing a clip of their family, including daughter Princess Estelle, six, and son Prince Oscar, two, baking cookies.

The family have a big celebration, as Christmas Eve is also Victoria’s mother Queen Silvia’s birthday.

Their Christmas tradition includes eating fruit cake soaked in brandy and powdered sugar.

Meanwhile, the British Royal Family have their own Christmas traditions.

The royal family tends to open presents together at teatime on Christmas Eve at the Queen’s estate in Sandringham, which is in Norfolk.

Buckingham Palace starts organising Christmas very early and the chief housekeeper emails staff before Easter regarding whether they would like to receive a gift voucher or a book voucher from the Queen for Christmas.

The week before Christmas, the staff receive their presents from the Queen in one of the Palace’s State Apartments.

The Queen and Prince Philip send around 850 Christmas cards to various heads of states, as well as other world leaders.