This is the only way the royals are allowed to open their Christmas presents - YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Sign in Welcome!Log into your account Forgot your password? Password recovery Recover your password Search Sign in Welcome! Log into your account Forgot your password? Get help Password recovery Recover your password A password will be e-mailed to you. YOU Magazine Fashion Beauty Celebrity Health Life Relationships Horoscopes Food Interiors Travel Home Celebrity This is the only way the royals are allowed to open their Christmas presents By You Magazine - November 28, 2018 It’s no secret that the royal family have strict rules to follow, be it the way they behave in public (and in front of the Queen) or their wardrobe choices. Traditional protocol has meant some things are strictly off-limits for Her Majesty and her family – including guidelines on what they get each other for Christmas, and when they’re allowed to open their presents. Getty Images It has been reported that the royal family have a Christmas tradition that dates back decades and you won’t believe how normal it is. As requested by the Queen, the family are only allowed to buy each other joke presents, and the cheaper they are, the better. We know, it probably sounds just like your office Secret Santa. Every year, the royal family sit down at precisely 6pm on Christmas Eve in the red drawing room at Sandringham to open their gifts, which they have sneakily placed in the room earlier that afternoon. According to the Express, former royal chef Darren McGrady said: ‘The royals are of German descent so they weave in German traditions to their celebrations. After afternoon tea, they open gifts on Christmas Eve, as is the German tradition.’ Getty Images Obviously, present giving among the royal family doesn’t just consist of wrapping up the gifts and leaving them under the tree. Instead, presents are placed on a white linen-covered trestle table in the red drawing room, with cards marking out sections for each family member and any of the Queen’s household who is on duty during the festive days. Once the gifts are placed and everyone is seated, the family members must wait for Prince Phillip, who is in charge of supervising the proceedings every year, to give them permission before opening any presents. And yes, everyone receives a present from the Queen, including all members of the royal household. The family, who all dress up in black tie for the intimate Christmas dinner, also gift over 1,500 Christmas puddings to palace staff, which is a tradition introduced by her father, King George VI and her grandfather George V. RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR 50 of the best celebrity Halloween costumes of all time Shirley Ballas ‘ Strictly gave me back my hope’ Davina McCall discusses how men can help women going through the menopause Popular in Celebrity TV chef Gino D Acampo on Sardinia Sophia Loren and scary salads May 25, 2017 The Evergreen Goddess Exercise guru Diana Moran on looking fit and July 10, 2017 More more Julianne Moore November 13, 2017 Author Jill Mansell on designer notebooks commissioning art and the family January 16, 2018 EMOTIONAL TIES Kelly Hoppen on vodka vintage finds and being a April 4, 2018 ‘ I have no regrets’ Millie Mackintosh on divorce debt and reuniting May 20, 2018 EMOTIONAL TIES TV presenter and tennis player Annabel Croft shares her July 1, 2018 Stella Parton ‘ Dolly and I have always been close’ August 12, 2018 Anna Friel on getting jeered in the street shared parenting with September 23, 2018 Queen of primetime Charlotte Riley on juggling rising stardom with pregnancy October 21, 2018 Popular CategoriesFood2704Life2496Fashion2240Beauty1738Celebrity1261Interiors684 Sign up for YOUMail Thanks for subscribing Please check your email to confirm (If you don't see the email, check the spam box) Fashion Beauty Celebrity Life Food Privacy & Cookies T&C Copyright 2022 - YOU Magazine. All Rights Reserved