What can we expect from a British royal family Christmas this year

Christmas 2024 marks the first time the British royal family will be gathering together after a rough year filled with medical troubles for King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales.

"It will be very, very much a case of unity for the royal family this year," Russell Myers, Royal editor at the Daily Mirror, told Today this morning.

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"They're all going to be at Sandringham. The King has been there all week. He's been touring the estate. He's been in the big house, as they call it, making sure that all the plans are being laid to welcome all the family for for the the Christmas period. So a lot to look forward to after such, such a testing year," he shared.

"This will be the first time that the Royal family have all got together en masse since the since their health woes right back in January," the expert pointed out.

"We had Kate and the King in the same hospital at the same time. We had reports of the King sort of tootling down the corridor to see his daughter-in-law at the time. Then they got diagnosed with cancer just within weeks of each other. Days even. I mean, it's been such a testing time for all of them.

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"And of course, you've got Prince William looking after the kids, the Queen taking one for the team, sort of being the focal point for the royal family. So I'm sure there'll be a lot... to take stock of and hopefully some better times on the horizon for all of them."

So what can we expect from a royal Christmas this year?

Catherine, Princess of Wales

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The Princess of Wales is planning to make a spectacular return with her annual Christmas Carol concert on Friday December 6, but she will be missing a major event just before that, according to Hello! Magazine.

Though she plans to welcome the Emir of Qatar on his state visit with her husband Prince William on Tuesday December 3, she plans to slip away during the major event, the glittering state banquet held in the royal's honour.

As for Christmas Day, there may be a special surprise in store for the royal.

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"They're still sort of doing the guest list, but certainly I wouldn't be too surprised if the Middletons got an invitation this year, for sure," Myers speculated about the royal's parents.

"Carole and Michael... have been such a force of strength for Kate and the Wales family. You know, they might be invited. It's not necessarily just the royal family."

Prince Andrew

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Despite King Charles reportedly no long being on speaking terms with his younger brother Prince Andrew following a drawn-out dispute over Andrew's residing at Royal Lodge, which prompted the King to cut his brother off financially, they will likely be putting their differences aside to spend the holidays together.

"Prince Andrew's sort of the dodgy uncle, isn't he, that some of us have in our families," said Myers, "Listen, we've all got one. Unfortunately, it seems that way a lot of the time. But Prince Andrew has been invited," he confirmed.

"The King has said that regardless of whether you know his huge fall from grace, his step back in disgrace has been well publicised, he's still very much a part of the family and regardless of their fighting about where he's going to live and the fact that he doesn't want to vacate his big mansion is going to be probably parked to the side for the Christmas period," said the expert.

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The Sussexes

Prince Harry and his family may be the royal outliers, but that doesn't mean they aren't welcome at the family Christmas, says Myers.

"It's always an open invitation for Harry and his family. Harry is the sticking problem at this point. I mean, he's always said that he doesn't feel safe bringing his kids and his wife to the UK," he said.

"So if he can't get over that hurdle, then I think it's going to be a while before he's sitting around the Christmas table with the rest of the family."

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