To be a royalist is to know the immense pressure placed on the royal family to uphold centuries-old traditions.
Since joining the monarchy upon her wedding to Prince William in 2011, Kate Middleton has upheld them all with grace and elegance. Yet according to a new source, there is one custom that the Princess of Wales is looking forward to abolishing when her husband ascends to the throne.
According to a source, the former Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are planning a Christmas “coup” that will overturn how the House of Windsor celebrates the holiday. The insider adds that the couple has a gripe with the “weird” act of opening presents on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day. “It is definitely going to be got rid of when they are officially running things,” they continue.
For the uninitiated, this convention is a Germanic practice that dates back to the reign of Queen Victoria as a way to honour Prince Albert’s roots. Queen Elizabeth II was reportedly a fan of the ritual as she allegedly “preferred Christmas Day to have a sacred note” and “disliked extravagance and overt expressions of consumerism”.
However, with the couple firmly committed to modernising ‘The Firm’, it’s reported that Prince William is “enthusiastic about embracing Kate‘s much more normal conception of Christmas”. It’s claimed that the pair will also host a “rival” party at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.
The royal family typically gathers at Sandringham Estate on the eastern coast of England where they attend mass, throw black tie dinners and unite to celebrate the festive period.
Pablo Larraín’s 2021 biopic Spencer, which sees Kristen Stewart portray Princess Diana, introduced new audiences to the royal’s unusual Christmas custom of weighing themselves before and after their feast. It’s not clear if this charade is still upheld, but one would assume this will also be discarded upon Prince William’s reign. “They want to change the narrative as they prepare to take the throne themselves,” the source added.
Middleton is actively involved in forging new traditions, like the Together At Christmas carols service thrown at Westminster Abbey. Now in its fourth consecutive year, the event will be Middleton’s first major duty since recouping from her health battle earlier in the year.
This story first appeared on GRAZIA International.
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