Mike Tindall's Christmas confession explains why Prince Louis always misses out on Royal lunch

Mike Tindall, former rugby player and son-in-law to Princess Anne, has given a glimpse into what a Royal Christmas truly entails - and why Prince Louis will be dining separately from his parents on the festive day. As someone who has experienced many Royal Christmases over the years, Mike is well-versed in the traditions that usually take place at the grand Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

This year's celebrations are expected to be the busiest in years, with around 45 guests gathering at the impressive country house - including Queen Camilla's children and grandchildren. There's no doubt there will be plenty of noise and laughter as the family indulges in their cherished annual customs.

These include the famous exchange of humorous gifts on Christmas Eve and a Christmas morning walk to the 16th-century St. Mary Magdalene Church.

Then, much like families across the county, the Royals will enjoy a roast turkey with all the trimmings. Before the main festivities kick off, the monarch also hosts a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, which took place on December 19 this year.

However, the seating arrangements may surprise Royal enthusiasts, who might expect the three young Wales children to be seated next to Prince William and Princess Kate, reports the Mirror.

In 2019, Mike Tindall, who tied the knot with Zara Phillips in 2011, shared some insights into Royal festive traditions on his rugby podcast, The Good, The Bad and The Rugby. He divulged that the children's Christmas meals are quite separate from the adults'.

During a discussion about the seating hierarchy, co-hosts James Haskell and Alex Payne humorously enquired: "Do you find yourself upgrading every year and getting closer to the main table, or are you off out the back? " They continued to jest: "Is there a promotion and relegation based on the year's performance? Because if there is I imagine you're pretty much sitting on the right-hand side of Her Majesty."

In response, Mike offered a peek at the Royal customs, saying: "This is the family lunch, there were seven tables so there must have been about 70 of us there. The kiddies have their own little one in a different room."

Former Royal chef Darren McGrady had previously informed the BBC about the Royal Family's Christmas dining etiquette, stating that young royals like Prince Louis dine separately. McGrady clarified: "The children always ate in the nursery until they were old enough to conduct themselves properly at the dining table. So for the Queen, there was never a case of putting a high chair at the table with a little baby squealing and throwing food. It was Victorian. The children's place was in the nursery, and Nanny would take care of them. It's your modern-day Downton Abbey."

The Prince and Princess of Wales caught Royal followers off guard this year by not showing up for the traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. The couple was anticipated to join in the yearly festivities with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Yet, shortly before the luncheon's scheduled time, it came to light that the family had decided to forego the event and had already commenced their Christmas break at Norfolk's Amner Hall. A Kensington Palace insider disclosed to The Telegraph: "The decision not to attend the lunch was made some time ago."