One of the best things about Christmas is undoubtedly the food!
Here in Australia, most enjoy cold meats, like ham, seafood, like prawns and oysters, and a variety of fresh salads on Christmas Day.
But royalists will undoubtedly want to know what the royals eat during Christmas.
Especially, as many of the beloved traditions we still partake in today were established by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert during the Victorian era.
For instance, did you know Prince Albert was the first to decorate an evergreen fir Christmas tree?
Today, that type of tree is the most popular to decorate at Christmas time!
Of course, other Christmas traditions Queen Victoria and Prince Albert enjoyed have fallen by the wayside…
According to The Conversation, in 1894, their Christmas dinner featured a calf’s head consommé garnished with truffle quenelles, pickled tongue, and a wild boar’s head.
It’s (thankfully) a far cry from what royals now eat on Christmas Day…
What do the royals eat for Christmas?
The British royal family
The British royal family usually spends Christmas Day at Sandringham, their Norfolk estate, as part of a long-standing family tradition.
Their day includes attending a morning church service at St. Mary Magdalene Church before returning to the estate for a festive meal together.
And thanks to former royal chef Darren McGrady, we know exactly what they eat on Christmas Day.
Darren told People that in the morning, the men and women eat separately – it’s a quirky royal tradition that is still upheld.
“On Christmas Day, the ladies generally opt for a light breakfast of sliced fruit, half a grapefruit, toast and coffee delivered to their rooms,” Darren said.
“Male royals, meanwhile, come downstairs to the dining room for a hearty breakfast at 8.30am with eggs, bacon and mushrooms, kippers and grilled kidneys, to set them up for the 11am church service at St Mary Magdalene.”
As for Christmas lunch, the entire royal family comes together and, according to Darren, the meal usually includes “turkey, different stuffings – sage and onion, chestnut – and the traditional sides like roast potatoes, mash potatoes, parsnips and Brussels sprouts.”
However, The Weekly’s royal correspondent Juliet Rieden believes the British royal family won’t stick to traditional foods this year.
“With the King’s passion for organic produce and lighter meals, there will likely be more contemporary alternatives also served,” Juliet said.
Danish royal family
The Danish royal family often celebrates Christmas at Marselisborg Palace in Aarhus – it’s been a tradition since Queen Margrethe’s ascension in 1972.
Food-wise, Christmas Eve dinner is the real highlight for the Danish royals during the holidays.
The meal usually consists of roast duck or goose, caramelised potatoes, red cabbage, and rich gravy.
And dessert typically includes risalamande, a creamy rice pudding with chopped almonds and warm cherry sauce.
The Spanish royal family
Specific details about what the Spanish royal family eats during Christmas are scarce.
However, it’s customary in Spain to enjoy a Christmas Eve dinner featuring an array of seafood, such as prawns, lobster, and crab, followed by roasted meats like lamb or turkey.
And desserts often include turrón (a nougat confection), polvorones (crumbly shortbread), and marzipan.
Considering that the Spanish royal family is rather traditional, it’s likely they enjoy these dishes during the holidays – but we’ll never know for sure!
