Christmas with the Royal Familly

Waikato Times, Volume 125, Issue 20995, 23 December 1939, Page 15 (Supplement)

Christmas with the Royal Familly

preparations can be undertaken weeks before December 25th. Thus many of the staff are released to enjoy themselves, and even the ones who remain have comparatively light duties nowadays at Christmas. Already, indeed, King George and Queen Elizabeth have shown that the Christmas festivities are not to be regarded as a State occasion, and that as much of the preparations as possible are to be done well in advance. Queen Elizabeth indicates this by choosing her Christmas presents several months ahead. By the end of the summer, she has made out her list of gifts (alongside the names of many of the staff, as well as relatives and close friends) and has begun to purchase the presents. Princesses Make Many Gifts Princess Elizabeth and Princess Margaret, too, are now encouraged to start thinking about Christmas gifts at an early date. In this case, the idea is particularly wise, for they make many of the presents themselves. Other gifts sent by the Princesses are bought from their weekly pocket money, and they are being taught that an early start is essential if the necessary sum is to be saved. From the beginning of September to Christmas itself, the preparations gather impetus. About a month before the date, the Christmas puddings are prepared, usually in the big kitchens of Windsor Castle or the more elaborately equipped kitchens of Buckingham Palace. In readiness for this work, ingredients from various parts of the Empire have been converging on to the kitchens, and a timetable has been mapped out so that the extra cooking can be undertaken without upsetting normal routine. Other preparations include the baking and icing of Christmas cakes; the selecting and feeding of geese and turkeys on the royal farms; the growing of flowers in special pots to fit the silver flower bowls on the Christmas table; and the planning of games and dances for both the royal party and the “below stairs” celebrations. A really modern innovation is a cinema show. Sandringham House, in fact, has been the scene of some notable cinema exhibitions at Yuletide in recent years. 'Traditional Style Decorations The main apartments of the royal residence are decorated in traditional Christmas style, with holly and mistletoe from the estate. There are cheery fires for the occasion—no electric or gas fires for such an intimate event The more serious side of Christmas is attended

W ARTHUR~NETTLETON

MANY KINDS OF TRADITION surround the lives of the * British Royal Family, and Christmas is no exception. Yet I the traditions upon which British Royalty’s Yuletide fes- f tivities are based do differ vastly from those upon which j many royal affairs are modelled. Whereas many royal J functions are governed by Court procedure, the reverse ' is actually the case at Christmas! The aim is to give the celebrations the maximum informality, and to plan the , festivities along the lines of those held in millions of homes * throughout the British Empire. >

When the Royal Family celebrates the season this year, it will be in a l homely, informal atmosphere. Yuletide in the royal palaces, up to the first j decade of the present century, was inclined to be a staid and somewhat j uninteresting occasion. Few royal regulations were relaxed, and even the J humour was apt to become forced. | Ever since King George V. and Queen Mary brought the celebrations , •to Sandringham, however, informality has been the keynote. No longer • are the royal servants compelled to attend the Christmas morning service in the church on the estate; no longer is there a gulf of strict for- 4 rnality between Royalty and their guests. In a hundred ways Court | rules are relaxed, and the aim is to ensure that everyone, from the King j down to the pantry maids, shall have an enjoyable time. j Modem developments in the catering world have facilitated these changes. With up-to-date methods of cooking and storage, much of the ■

to on Christmas morning, when the royal party attend service in the church of St. Mary. Any of the servants who can be spared are invited to attend, also. In the tranquil atmosphere of this little country church, King and Queen, Princes and Princesses, worship with their staff and commoners from neighbouring villages. Gift-giving time is in the afternoon—except for the Princesses, who receive their presents in the early morning, like children everywhere. Gifts for the King and Queen come from the staff, as well as from their relatives and friends. In return, each member of the staff receives a royal present, its value being according to the recipient's position. The highest household workers usually receive some silver article. As in every British home, however, the highlight of the celebrations is the Christmas dinner, timed for 8.30. Those extensive preparations in the royal kitchens culminate here, and the Yuletide customs include the arrival of the* Christmas puddings with flames dancing round them. Huge, shimmering chandeliers throw a tasteful light upon the loaded tables with their snow white cloths and gold and silver plate. But, splendid though the scene may be, it is still kept as informal as possible. The latest anecdote about the Princesses is told by the King; the Queen recounts a laughable incident which befel her during a recent social visit; and in a dozen other ways the real Christmas spirit is created. Meanwhilg; the staff below stairs are not forgotten. They have their own celebrations in the servants’ hall, and the affair is graced by a visit from the royal party. It has been said that at no place are Royalty nearer their subjects than at Sandringham. It can equally be said that on no occasion does this truth annlv more fullv than at Christmas.