0:59
- culture
- December 23, 2021
Queen Elizabeth to stay home for Christmas
The queen plans to forego annual tradition and stay home at Windsor Castle.
0:59
In past years, the queen and Philip oversaw the family's multi-day Christmas celebration at Sandringham with their four children -- Princes Charles, Andrew and Edward, and Princess Anne -- and their grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
The family traditionally holds their gift exchange on Christmas Eve, following the German tradition, where they often swap funny or homemade gifts.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/british-royals-gty-rc-211216_1639664000997_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
On Christmas Day, they traditionally walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church for the Christmas service and then enjoy lunch at Sandringham before watching the queen deliver her annual Christmas message.
In the evening, the royal family will get together again for a Christmas buffet dinner with 15 to 20 different delicacies prepared by the queen's chef.
On the day after Christmas, known as Boxing Day in the U.K., the royals traditionally partake in a pheasant shoot on the grounds of Sandringham.
Some members of the royal family gathered Dec. 8 at Westminster Abbey for a Christmas carols service hosted by Duchess Kate.
![\"PHOTO:](\"http://a.abcnews.com/images/GMA/royals-xmas-2-rt-ps-2111208_1638991167232_hpMain_4x3t_384.jpg\")
Kate and Prince William were joined by William's cousins Zara Tindall, and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, as well as William’s aunt, Sophie Wessex, and members of Kate's family, the Middletons.
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