The Traditions The Royal Family Honors at Christmas Each Year

Like many families around the world, the British royals have their own unique set of Christmas customs. Every December the Windsors make an annual trip to the Queen's Sandringham Estate, where they celebrate the holidays. They play pick-up games of charades and football—and have black-tie dinners, naturally. They even honor their German heritage each year when they exchange gifts. Of course, given the ongoing pandemic, things may look a little different this year (both for the royals and everyone else), but keeping that in mind, read on for 12 Christmas traditions that Queen Elizabeth and her family always try to honor.

Most years, the week leading up to Christmas means one thing in particular: the Queen hosts her annual luncheon. But before you get your best outfit ready, the affair is for extended members of the family and it's held at Buckingham Palace. And while we generally don't get to see what happens, there are often photos of the family going to and from to look forward to, such as this picture of Princes William and Harry with Kate Middleton and Prince George en route to said occasion. (That said, given ongoing health concerns, it's unlikely we'll see the Windsors heading to this lunch in 2021.)

As we all know, members of the royal family serve as patrons to many charities, and during the holidays in particular, they go out of their way to support the causes closest to their hearts by throwing Christmas parties.

Like many families around the world, the royals send out annual holiday cards. According to the royals' official website, the Queen sends around 750 cards total, which, per Popsugar, the Queen likes to get a head start on her signing... while she is on her summer holiday in Balmoral.

The Windsors typically spend the holidays at their home in Sandringham, just 100 miles north of London. But not only that: every year, the Queen marks the occasion by traveling by train to King's Lynn Station in Norfolk.

This photo here was taken in 2017. Sadly, Prince Philip passed away earlier this year at the age of 99.

Popsugar reports that Prince William and Prince Harry used to play a Christmas Eve game of pick-up football (that's soccer for our American readers) on the Sandringham Estate alongside members of the staff. Team William reportedly wore Aston Villa socks while Team Harry wore Arsenal apparel. Nothing like a bit of cardio before a holiday celebration!

Of course, Prince Harry isn't likely to be at Sandringham this year, as he now lives in the U.S. with Meghan and his children, so it's unclear if the traditional game will continue in his absense.

In addition to the Queen's donations, the royal family's website reveals that the monarch gives Christmas trees to Westminster Abbey, St. Paul's Cathedral, St. Giles' Cathedral and the Canongate Kirk in Edinburgh. The page also vaguely states that "churches and schools in the Sandringham area will also receive a tree from Her Majesty."

Some families do ugly sweaters, but tradition dictates that the family attends a black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve, where, according to Popsugar, the Queen's favorite cocktail, the "Zaza" is served.

Three fir trees are brought to the Marble Hall in Buckingham Palace each year. And this tradition goes way back, in fact, it was popularized in the nineteenth century by Queen Elizabeth's great-great-grandmother Queen Victoria.

As former royal chef Darren McGrady explained to Good Housekeeping, the royal family also has a large Christmas tree and a large silver artificial tree in the dining room at Sandringham. The Queen even lets her great-grandchildren help decorate.

According to McGrady, the Windsors honor their German heritage by opening presents after afternoon tea on Christmas Eve instead of on Christmas Day.

Each year on Christmas Day, the Queen is joined by her family for a church service at St. Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham Estate.

The Windsors reportedly assemble for a matchup of charades every year after Christmas lunch. Just think of the hijinks that ensue!

Every year since 1952, the Queen has given an annual Christmas broadcast to the Commonwealth, in which she reflects on the past year and looks ahead to the future. Since 1957, the broadcast has been televised, and the whole royal family is said to watch it together on Christmas Day.