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Over the river and through the woods, to Prince Harry’s grandmother’s house we go! Kensington Palace has confirmed that Meghan Markle will spend Christmas Day at Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth’s 20,000-acre Norfolk estate.
But this isn’t just a visit to see Granny. Christmas with the Queen involves royal traditions so formal and structured that guests are reportedly presented with timetables and room maps when they arrive on Christmas Eve (which they do so in order of rank, with Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles coming last).
Now, Markle is just confirmed for Christmas Day—tabloid reports say she and Prince Harry will spend Christmas Eve at Prince William and Kate Middleton’s estate of Anmer Hall—which, if true, means she’ll skip several formal affairs. But, she’ll still have to navigate her way through royal traditions, from morning church to the annual lunch and the viewing of the Queen’s address.
By all accounts, it’s a daunting day for everyone, let alone a new inductee of “The Firm.”
Vogue talked to several royal experts about what Markle can expect, and they also gave some tips on how to handle it all. So Meghan Markle, if you’re reading this, here’s your Sandringham survival guide.
Do: Bring Lots and Lots of Outfits
“The royal family does enjoy dressing up during the festive holiday,” says Claudia Joseph, author of How to Dress Like a Princess. “She will need everything from evening gowns, day dresses, and smart suits to casualwear for the Boxing Day shoot. On Christmas Day alone, she will be expected to change five times.”
And what should she be packing? If she does decide to come for Christmas Eve, formal attire and priceless jewels are a must. “For lunch on Christmas Eve, the men wear suits and the women wear smart silk dresses, but they change into black tie and glamorous gowns for dinner. It’s the one time the women wear their most expensive jewelry and almost all wear tiaras,” says Joseph.
On Christmas Day, there are plenty of dress requirements, but the most important one is for church. “The family comes down for breakfast dressed in their church outfits—usually a day dress or a smart suit with pearls for the women. We should see Meghan in a hat for the first time,” Joseph explains Although Markle should wear comfortable shoes—the family walks all the way to the service.
And don’t forget to dress for sport—there’s plenty of ground exploring, dog walking, and if she’s there on December 26th, the annual Boxing Day shoot.
Don’t: Bring Nice Gifts
The Windsors open presents on Christmas Eve, so Markle will likely be off the hook for any gift giving. But if she does decide to bring some, she should skip the Harrods china. The royal family swaps “cheap and cheerful” gifts, the more absurd, the better. “ ‘Grow your own girlfriend’ kits, padded loo seats, and rubber chickens have all raised a right royal giggle in the past,” says Robert Jobson, royal editor of the Evening Standard.
Do: Come Prepared for An Extravagant British Lunch—But Eat It Quickly
Jobson breaks down the annual Christmas Day lunch for Vogue: “The head chef, accompanied by some of his team, carve the first of two 25-pound turkeys at the buffet in the dining room, with the Queen first in line. At the end of the carving, it’s the one time of the year that she would give the head chef a drink, and he will toast the family with ‘Happy Christmas,’ ” he says.
“There is also a buffet of foie gras, boar’s head, venison, and salmon trout. Once everyone has sat down with their meat, the butlers will come around with their Brussels sprouts with fresh roasted chestnut and roast potatoes. Dessert is two Christmas puddings and brandy sauce, mince pies, and hard butter.”
That’s a lot of food—but, according, to Ingrid Seward, author of My Husband and I: The Inside Story of 70 Years of the Royal Marriage, the lunch itself is quite short, starting at 1:00 p.m. and ending around 2:30 p.m.
“It’s not like a long, lingering feast that we all have over Christmas. It’s all very quick because the staff needs to have their lunch,” she says. “There will be a footman behind the chairs serving. The Queen is served first and she eats quite quickly.”
And although Christmas is a more relaxed affair, Seward says you can’t go wrong following this bit of royal etiquette: “You speak to the person on your right side first and then on your left.”
Don’t: Overdo It With the Curtsying
As Markle is not yet Prince Harry’s wife, she will technically be outranked by every royal family member at Sandringham; therefore, she would be expected to curtsy in their presence. However, there’s so much blue blood at the palace that “there is a moratorium on curtsying at Sandringham, apart from to the Queen, in order to retain the peace,” says Joseph.
Do: Talk to the Queen About This
Making small talk with the Queen? That’s something that would give even the chattiest among us hives. “If she is ever stuck for something to say to the Queen, my advice would be to ask her about her horses or her dogs,” says Penny Junor, author of The Duchess: The Untold Story. “The Queen is mad about both, and also very knowledgeable, and she completely relaxes when on the subject of either.” Good news for Markle: The corgis already love her.
Don’t: Make Light of the Queen’s Speech
While some families may have the Queen’s Christmas Day speech on as background noise, the royals watch it ceremoniously together with the Queen at 3:00 p.m., U.K. time. “It’s very serious for her. If they watch it together, they won’t make any funny remarks,” says Seward.
Do: Practice Your Puzzle Skills
After the Queen’s speech, the family goes to the drawing room where there are puzzles laid out for their enjoyment. Since Markle is not an overnight guest, she may skip this part. But if she doesn’t, here’s where we lend our own advice: Start with the edge pieces first!
