Why Kate and Will Are Creating Their Own Christmas Traditions Separate from the Royal Family

Christmas will be a little extra special for the Waleses this year before they join the rest of the royals at their Sandringham compound. It’s been a tough past 12 months for the royal family, with both Kate Middleton and King Charles undergoing cancer treatment in the public eye–and Kate and Prince William are being intentional about adding some separate holiday traditions as they close out a difficult year, a royal expert told Us Weekly in a new cover story.

Kate, William, and their kids will be part of what will likely be a full house at Sandringham, with Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie’s families, Zara and Mike Tindall, Queen Camilla’s son, and Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie’s family all reportedly on this year’s invite list. It's likely the royals’ holiday celebration will include some long-held Windsor family customs from the Queen Elizabeth era, including their annual walk to Sandringham estate and service at St Mary Magdalene church.

While Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis will have ample opportunity to bond with their cousins, Kate and William are also ensuring that the family of five spends time apart from the larger royal group. They’ll likely be enjoying some solo pursuits, including baking at Anmer Hall, watching holiday movies like the family-favorite Elf, and playing board games, per the publication.

Royal expert Sharon Carpenter told Us Weekly that Kate and William will also be slotting in more quality time with Carol and Michael Middleton, who were indispensable in helping the Wales family through Kate’s health issues.

“Spending time with her side of the family is very important to Kate,” Carpenter told the publication. “It’s a more private, relaxed environment away from the public eye.” This update comes after sources recently told The Daily Beast that the couple is planning to hold their own “rival” holiday party this year, separately from King Charles and Queen Camilla’s annual bash. Kate’s family, including her parents, Mike and Carole, are expected to be in attendance.

Kate and William aren’t the only ones supplementing with new traditions, as Carpenter also reported that King Charles will be adding “some modern touches” as he opens up his Highgrove Home to the public–an endeavor that he hopes will make fans feel “more connected” to the royals.

After the family’s “most challenging [year] yet,” the royals are putting an emphasis on spending quality time with each other. “Kate is genuinely looking forward to joining the royal family at Sandringham for Christmas,” Carpenter added, revealing that both Kate and Charles “are very much looking forward to being surrounded by family, and there will be lots of royal children in attendance bringing the kind of lighthearted, fun energy that serves as a good distraction from all the serious stuff.”

Read the original article on InStyle