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

The Queen and Prince Philip's Christmas plans have been revealed

Queen looks reflective
The Queen to miss Christmas at Sandringham
(Image credit: Getty)

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'

Queen

The Queen and Prince Philip will remain at Windsor Castle for the festive period 

(Image credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images)

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."

The Queen and the Duchess of Cambridge

The pair are usually joined by other members of the royal family at Sandringham

(Image credit: Getty)

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.”

Windsor Castle

Christmas will be spent at Windsor Castle this year 

(Image credit: photo by Mark Kerrison/In Pictures via Getty Images)

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.

Georgia Farquharson

Georgia writes across Woman & Home and Good to Know and specialises in all things royal. Previously labelled the "Queen of the royals," Georgia knows the whose who and what's what when it comes to the monarchy. When she's not eagerly following the royal family, Georgia enjoys shopping and self-care. She lives with this motto in mind; "if your dreams don't scare you, they aren't big enough."