The Queen makes unexpected change to Christmas plans and breaks with tradition for the first time in 32 years

The Queen will spend Christmas at Windsor Castle for the first time in 32 years.

• Buckingham Palace have confirmed that the Queen and Prince Philip will remain at Windsor Castle for Christmas
• They are said to have 'considered all the appropriate advice' surrounding the ongoing global pandemic
• It follows royal news that the Queen only eats 'tiny Christmas dinners'

Buckingham Palace have confirmed the Queen and Prince Philip will remain at Windsor Castle for a "quiet" Christmas for the first time in 32 years.

A spokesperson said, "Having considered all the appropriate advice, the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh have decided that this year they will spend Christmas quietly in Windsor."

Traditionally, the Queen has celebrated Christmas at Sandringham ever since 1988 - when Windsor Castle, where the royals used to celebrate, was being rewired. 

Revealing the reasons behind her decision to move Christmas to Sandringham, the Queen’s former press secretary, Dickie Arbiter, told Hello, “Traditionally the family has always gone to Sandringham at Christmas. It’s so close to London where she does occasions almost right up to Christmas.

“She wants to be at Sandringham for the beginning of February, which is the anniversary of the death of her father. So Sandringham has always been the traditional place to go for Christmas until New Year.”

“Sandringham is always winter and Balmoral is always summer.”

They would normally be joined by up to 30 members of the extended family - including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Prince of Wales.