Christmas is a special time of year for the royal family. One family member who held this season close to her heart was the late Queen Elizabeth II. Here’s why Christmas was so special to the Queen.
Royal family Christmas traditions
A royal family Christmas features many long-held traditions. They usually have a family lunch, exchange gifts, and attend a special church service. Dinner takes place later that day.
Holiday plans have remained the same for years except for the annual Christmas broadcast. The monarch gave her final Christmas speech in 2021. King Charles took over this tradition in December 2022.
“Christmas afternoon is a chance for the royal family to watch the Christmas speech,” former royal butler Grant Harrold tells Culturess on behalf of Spin Genie. “I was once told, and I’m not too sure how true this is, that the Queen would take herself off to a private room to watch the speech on her own.”
Why Christmas was important to Queen Elizabeth
Queen Elizabeth loved Christmas because it provided an opportunity for her to spend time with her family. The queen made sure her family enjoyed quality time during the holidays. She was delighted to have the opportunity to gather with loved ones before the start of the new year.
“Queen Elizabeth was all about the family being together, especially with her children,” says Harrold. “I think King Charles wants exactly the same. I think he’ll want to do the same that his parents did, which is to have his children and grandchildren with him.”
Family always came first for the queen. It meant a lot to her to be able to spend time with her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren.
“The thing about Christmas is that it’s a time to spend with your loved ones,” continues Harrold. “I think it’s important that the family spends Christmas with Charles, like the Queen had with her family.”
Queen Elizabeth’s life of faith
A significant part of Queen Elizabeth’s Christmas celebrations was her Christian faith. During her Christmas broadcasts, she spoke about her beliefs. She often said her faith was a source of strength and guidance throughout her life.
Christmas also served as a moment of reflection. The queen took time during her Christmas addresses to look back on the past year’s events and offer words of encouragement.
Queen Elizabeth dedicated her life to faith, family, and service. She demonstrated the true spirit of Christmas by spending time with loved ones and sharing messages of hope.