EXCLUSIVE: King Charles' 'Seriously Strict' Christmas Timetable Revealed — Complete With 'Secret Rule'
King Charles has enforced a strict festive schedule for his royal family members.
Dec. 24 2025, Published 3:24 p.m. ET
King Charles is presiding over a Christmas at Sandringham governed by a timetable so precise even senior royals are expected to fall into line, with insiders telling RadarOnline.com it is a "seriously strict" schedule – including an unspoken rule that lateness is not tolerated.
The 77-year-old monarch and his wife Queen Camilla, 78, are preparing to host the extended royal family at Sandringham House in Norfolk for the festive period, continuing traditions that have defined the royal Christmas for decades.
Precision and Punctuality at Sandringham
Charles enforced a strict Christmas timetable at Sandringham.
Their gathering comes after a turbulent year for The Firm, marked by health concerns, family absences and heightened public scrutiny.
The Prince and Princess of Wales, William, 43, and Catherine, also 43, are expected to attend with their children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.
Prince Edward and Sophie will also be present with Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor and James, Earl of Wessex, alongside Princess Anne, Zara Tindall, her husband Mike Tindall and their three children.
Princesses Beatrice, 37, and Eugenie, 35, are not expected to attend to avoid embarrassing silences over their shamed parents' Andrew Windsor and Sarah Ferguson's joint disgrace over their ties to sex trafficking pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
Prince Harry, 41, and Meghan Markle, 44, will again remain in California with Prince Archie, 6, and Princess Lilibet, 4.
The Secret Rule of the Holidays
Family members will change into formal wear for lunch with staff before the estate walk.
According to one palace insider, the celebrations will be far from informal – despite the royals' need to relax after a horrific year.
They said: "Punctuality is taken as a given. The schedule allows no flexibility, and everyone understands it is not something to push. Charles' unspoken and 'secret' rule of the holidays is you do not break this requirement."
The source added formal festive proceedings begin on Christmas Eve morning, when family members arrive and submit to the long-standing tradition of being weighed on antique scales – a custom dating back to Edward VII.
Our insider added: "After the tradition is completed, there is a change into formal wear for lunch with royal staff. Even the more casual parts of the day, such as the estate walk, are carefully scheduled, and everyone must return by 5pm for tea."
A Day of Formal Transitions
Charles will hold a private early church service before the family appeared for the public walk.
Sources close to the household say the strict structure reflects Charles' preference for order and continuity, particularly during periods of family gatherings.
On Christmas Day itself, the schedule tightens further. Members of the public queue from early morning to see the royals attend St. Mary Magdalene Church, but the family's day begins earlier than most realize.
A source said: "What is often missed is that the King and his family go to an earlier, private church service out of public view before appearing for the formal stroll."
Lunch is served after the church appearance, and Charles expects "everyone to participate – whatever their appetite at that time of day," our source said.
They added: "Unlike Queen Elizabeth, the King wears the paper hat that comes out of the cracker and expects everyone else to follow suit."
Multiple outfit changes are required throughout the day, reinforcing the sense of formality that governs proceedings.
Comfort and Unity Amid Health Battles
Never Miss an
Daily updates from the heart of Hollywood, right to your inbox
By entering your email and clicking Sign Up, you’re agreeing to let us send you customized marketing messages about us and our advertising partners. You are also agreeing to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
Charles tightened the schedule to maintain order and ensure the festive season unfolded without disruption.
This year's Christmas carries particular emotional significance.
Catherine's attendance marks her first festive season since announcing earlier in the year that she was in remission from cancer, while Charles has recently confirmed that his own cancer treatment is being scaled back in the new year.
A source close to the family said the news has shaped the tone of the gathering. "There is a sense that this Christmas is focused on comfort and unity," the source said.
"The King is intent on ensuring everything proceeds without disruption, alongside an underlying feeling of quiet thankfulness – but he feels that can only be done in the framework of formality."
