Each year, the royal family gathers at Queen Elizabeth‘s Sandringham estate for Christmas celebrations. The guest list is very tight, leaving no room for in-laws, girlfriends (sorry Cressy) or otherwise, and each royal is given a designated arrival time.
Last year, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were granted permission by the Queen to break protocol and spend Christmas with the Middleton family, since Catherine was still in her first trimester, and recovering from acute morning sickness. Rather than stick to the Sandringham schedule of exchanging gag gifts, black tie dinners and tea, William felt it better than his wife relax with her own family instead.
This year, it looks like the Cambridges will once again join William’s side for the holidays. Unfortunately, Anmer Hall won’t be ready in time, so the Middletons will be unable to spend Christmas Eve and day with their grandson.
“William said the new house, which is big enough for all of them to be together, is nowhere near ready, so the plan is they will spend some of Christmas at Sandringham and some time with Kate’s family,” a source told The Mail on Sunday. ”William is very tight with Kate’s family and loves being with them. This way they get to enjoy two Christmases.”
The family will most likely stay through the Windsor’s Boxing Day shoot before heading to Bucklebury to spend the New Year with Carole, Michael, Pippa and James.
“William and Kate have their own ideas about how they want to do things and it’s quite likely that from now on they will split Christmas with each of their families,” a friend of the couple explained. ”Kate is very close to her family and will want them to have some time with George.”
