At the top of the guest list are the Prince and Princess of Wales, as the future King and Queen, along with their three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis.
Who Will Be Joining the King and Queen
Prince William’s cousins, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, are also expected to attend with their families. Beatrice will likely arrive alongside her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and their two daughters, Sienna, four, and Athena, just 11 months old. Eugenie is expected with her husband Jack Brooksbank and their sons, August, four, and Ernest, one.
This year marks the first Christmas the sisters will celebrate without their parents. Their father, formerly known as Prince Andrew, and their mother, Sarah Ferguson, the former Duchess of York, recently had their royal titles removed following damaging revelations linked to their respective connections with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew is also the only sibling of the King who has been excluded from the Sandringham gathering.
King Charles’ youngest brother, Prince Edward, is expected to attend with his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and their children, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex.
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal, will also join the festivities with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence. Her daughter Zara Tindall is set to attend with her rugby star husband Mike Tindall and their three children, although it remains unclear whether Zara’s brother, Peter Phillips, will be present.
Strict Traditions Behind Closed Doors
It’s not just the guest list that has sparked curiosity among royal fans this year, but also the tightly structured schedule that defines Christmas Day at Sandringham. Royal expert and author Robert Jobson shared details with HELLO! this week, explaining that the celebration is far more formal and regulated than many people might expect.
While the day is undoubtedly joyful, Jobson suggested it bears little resemblance to a relaxed, alcohol-fuelled family gathering.
“There’s an unspoken rule for guests: do not arrive late,” Jobson explained. “There is no grace period.”