Across Europe, royal families are embracing the festive season of 2025 with a blend of tradition, warmth, and a surprising dose of relatable family togetherness. From the stately halls of Sandringham to the cozy palaces of Copenhagen, and in Christmas cards sent around the globe, the continent’s royals are putting their personal stamp on the holidays—sometimes quite literally, with hands held and arms linked in family portraits that feel more like snapshots from next door than dispatches from another world.
In the United Kingdom, King Charles and Queen Camilla are preparing to host their relatives at Sandringham, upholding a series of long-standing Christmas traditions that might seem eccentric to outsiders but are cherished within royal circles. According to HELLO! magazine, the festivities at Sandringham are a carefully choreographed affair. Guests follow a strict schedule, and, as royal author Robert Jobson puts it, “There’s an unspoken rule for guests: do not arrive late. There is no grace period.”
One of the more peculiar customs, dating back to Edward VII’s reign in the early 20th century, involves guests being weighed on antique jockey’s scales both upon arrival and before departure—a practice intended to ensure that everyone has indulged heartily during their stay. This tradition, confirmed by Sandringham’s former house administrator Gill Pattinson on the series Crown and Country, is just one of many rituals that give the royal Christmas its unique flavor.
The schedule is packed but festive. On Christmas Eve, the family gathers for a formal lunch, changes outfits for an afternoon walk, and reconvenes by 5 p.m. for tea. Later, gifts are exchanged—not on Christmas morning as in many British households, but on Christmas Eve, in a nod to the family’s German roots through Prince Albert. Presents are arranged on trestle tables, and the evening culminates in a black-tie dinner, as confirmed by the King’s niece, Zara Tindall, who said, “We give presents to each other on Christmas Eve. As adults, we still have stockings on Christmas Day.”
Even those who have stepped back from royal duties keep these traditions alive. Prince Harry shared in his memoir Spare how he and Meghan Markle, along with their son Archie, continued the Christmas Eve gift-opening tradition in California: “We took Archie to find a Christmas tree. A pop-up lot in Santa Barbara. We bought one of the biggest spruces they had. We brought it home, set it up in the living room. Magnificent. We stood back, admiring, counting our blessings. New home. Healthy boy.” He added, “It was Christmas Eve. We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain. We watched Archie running around the tree. And we opened presents. Keeping to the Windsor family tradition.”
Meanwhile, across the North Sea, the Danish Royal Family is weaving their own tapestry of Christmas customs. As reported by Danish media and corroborated by official palace releases, King Frederik, Queen Mary, and their four children—Crown Prince Christian, Princess Isabella, and twins Prince Vincent and Princess Josephine—have spent December sharing their family-focused celebrations with the public. The month began with the lighting of the Advent wreath, a beloved Nordic tradition. Queen Mary and King Frederik lit the first candle, followed by Princess Isabella, then the twins, and finally Crown Prince Christian, each taking their turn as the season progressed.
Family moments have been front and center. The royal household shared videos of the family decorating their palace Christmas tree, complete with music, dancing, and even a gingerbread cookie baking contest among the siblings. Pets made cameo appearances, and personalized ornaments adorned the tree, creating a scene that felt both regal and genuinely homey.
Royal duties have continued alongside these personal celebrations. King Frederik attended a Christmas concert featuring the music of Bach, while Queen Mary reflected on her foundation’s charitable work over the past year. The family also hosted their annual Christmas reception for palace staff, with more than 450 employees joining in the festivities, sharing mulled wine and seasonal treats in a relaxed atmosphere. A particularly touching moment came when King Frederik was photographed with his mother, Queen Margrethe, as she taught him the art of crafting traditional Danish Christmas paper hearts—a scene that spoke volumes about their close bond and Margrethe’s well-known love of crafts.
This year, however, the Danish royal family will be celebrating Christmas apart. King Frederik, Queen Mary, their children, and Queen Margrethe will gather at Amalienborg Palace, while Prince Joachim, Princess Marie, and their children Henrik and Athena will remain in Washington, D.C., where Joachim continues his work as a defense industry attaché. Despite the distance, the family sent a transatlantic Christmas greeting, with images of Joachim in a Santa hat, Princess Marie with a festive roast, and their children enjoying the American outdoors—an embrace of the personal, family-oriented holiday cards that have become popular among European royals.
This focus on warmth and relatability isn’t limited to private moments. According to a BBC report, European royal Christmas cards in 2025 are striking a distinctly modern tone. Gone are the stiff, formal group shots of decades past. Instead, families are pictured holding hands, linking arms, and hugging—projecting unity and affection. The Prince and Princess of Wales, for example, chose an informal portrait of their family in the Norfolk countryside, dressed in jeans and jumpers, sitting on the grass and looking relaxed. Prince William has spoken about modernizing the monarchy’s image, and this card is a clear effort to present the royals as approachable and down-to-earth.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s own card shows them arm in arm—a symbol of unity—taken during their 20th wedding anniversary state visit to Italy at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome, with the Queen wearing a lily of the valley brooch, a symbol of enduring love. The springtime backdrop may seem unusual for a Christmas card, but it captures a milestone moment from earlier in the year, blending the formal with the personal.
Even Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s “Happy Holiday Season” card, sent from across the Atlantic, features a candid, snowy scene from the Invictus Games in Canada. The couple is pictured holding hands and smiling behind sunglasses, exuding optimism and movement. Their card, though less intimate in its message, still reflects the broader trend: a desire to show the world the human side of royal life.
As the year draws to a close, these traditions and images offer a window into how Europe’s royal families are adapting to a changing world. They are holding on to cherished rituals—sometimes literally—while reaching out to the public with gestures of warmth, relatability, and unity. Whether weighed on antique scales or baking gingerbread in the palace kitchen, the royals of 2025 are showing that, at heart, they are families first.
