What it's really like in Sandringham, where the British Royal Family celebrate Christmas
It's a small 13th century stone building, with an ornate wooden ceiling and stunning stain glass inside.
And as I sat there inside the old church, staring at the grand silver-laden altar, it struck me – King Charles III and most members of the British royal family will be sharing this same view come Christmas Day.
Christmas at Sandringham Estate has been a relatively recent tradition for the royals, with the late Queen Elizabeth II moving festivities back there in 1988, while Windsor Castle was being rewired.
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Staring at the grand silver-laden altar, it struck me – most British royals share this view every year. 9Honey
Now, for a second year since the newest monarch's coronation, Charles and Queen Camilla will play host to the holiday festivities here.
This means the royals will attend traditional morning mass on Christmas Day at St Mary's Magdalene Church, located on the estate.
Locals and tourists alike line part of the pathway the royals walk along from the castle to the church, rugged up in their Sunday best.
It takes them approximately 10 minutes to walk down for the 11am service. And after, they meander back.
A lucky few get to meet some members of the royal family, who may stop for a chat. But all of them will have been waiting hours for the opportunity.
One person, who works near the Estate, told me people usually start arriving around 7am Christmas morning.
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The British royal family attends morning mass on Christmas Day at St Mary's Magdalene Church, located on the estate. 9Honey
Now, for a second year since the newest monarch's coronation, King Charles III and Queen Camilla will play host to the holiday festivities here. Getty
Knowing how cold it is on an evening in early December, I can only imagine the chill in the morning air toward the end of the month.
You really would have to be a royal enthusiast to want to do it… and you'd definitely need multiple layers – in the 30 minutes I was waiting for the bus to arrive to take me back to the station, my toes were numb.
Sandringham is beautiful but if you're wanting to visit this gem without a car, it's a bit of a trek from London and a little out of the way. But then, that's what the royals love about it.
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Members of the royal family will attend traditional morning mass on Christmas Day at St Mary's Magdalene Church, located on the Estate. Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty Images
A lucky few get to meet some members of the royal family, who may stop for a chat. But all of them will have been waiting hours for the opportunity. Stephen Pond/Getty Images
Walking around the Estate, you get a real sense of calm and tranquility that most certainly isn't there when you walk around the front of Buckingham Palace, nor Windsor Castle these days either.
Those working on the Estate are happy to have a chat about the family but are simultaneously fiercely protective about the monarch.
Many of the locals see the senior royals as just another member of the community –speaking to their approachable nature and standing among those in the area.
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Walking around the Estate, you get a real sense of calm and tranquillity 9Honey
The gates leading to Sandringham Castle 9Honey
And, it turns out Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales' country home, Anmer Hall, is a five minute drive down the road. However, that's one you can't stop into.
While the royals tend to descend on Sandringham through the winter months, in summer, Sandringham Castle is open to the public and you can take a look around the ground floor of the 1870 structure.
This includes the home's actual lounge room, which is usually a hive of activity over Christmas.
But during the winter months, it's only the main café, gift shop and visitor's centre across the road which are open to the public.
St Mary's Magdalene church is only accessible after October if you go to one of their services.
And that's what made the experience of being inside the monarch's church all the more special for me, because it wasn't just any ordinary Sunday service I was invited in for.
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In winter, only the main cafe, gift shop and visitor's centre across the road are open to the public 9Honey
Being in Sandringham, you can see why the royals use this quiet country escape as their place to celebrate the holidays. 9Honey
While it was still led by the King's rector, it was one that brought together many locals – who couldn't have been nicer or more welcoming – and it was something that really brought out that feeling of community, which is what Christmas is all about.
So, from that feeling of warmth right through to the frosty picturesque landscape in the winter, being in Sandringham, you can see why the royals use this quiet country escape as their place to celebrate the holidays.
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