Mike Tindall explains why Prince Louis doesn’t join Royal Family for Christmas lunch

As the Royal Family gathers at Sandringham for their festive break, Mike Tindall offers some insight into the regal seating arrangements, and why Prince Louis eats his Christmas lunch separately

Mike Tindall has shed a little insight into what a Royal Christmas really looks like - and why Prince Louis will be dining separately from his parents on the big day.

As Princess Anne's son-in-law, former rugby player Mike has become well-accustomed to Royal Christmases over the years. These usually take place at the grand Sandringham Estate in Norfolk, and this year's festivities look set to be the busiest in years. With some 45 guests gathering at the imposing country house—including Queen Camilla's children and grandchildren—there will undoubtedly be plenty of noise and laughter as the family settles into their beloved annual traditions.

This, of course, includes the famous swapping of jokey presents on Christmas Eve and a Christmas morning walk to the 16th-century St. Mary Magdalene Church. Then, much like families up and down the county, the Firm will tuck into a roast turkey with all the trimmings. Before the main festivities begin, the monarch also hosts a Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace, which was held on December 19 this year. However, the seating arrangements may come as a surprise to Royal fans, who may imagine the three young Wales children to be seated beside Prince William and Princess Kate.

In 2019, Mike, who married Zara Phillips in 2011, opened up about the regal celebrations on his rugby podcast, The Good, The Bad & The Rugby, and revealed that the children's festive feasts are quite a different affair. Quizzing Mike about seating arrangements, podcast co-stars James Haskell and Alex Payne asked: "Do you find yourself upgrading every year and getting closer to the main table, or are you off out the back?" They prodded: "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."

Offering a glimpse into the proceedings, Mike replied: "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 previously told the BBC that Royal Family Christmas rules dictate that youngsters such as Prince Louis must eat their dinner in a different room.

He explained: "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 surprised fans this year by missing the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. They had been expected to attend the annual celebration alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. However, just a short time before the luncheon was scheduled, it was revealed that the family would be skipping the event and were already in Norfolk's Amner Hall for the start of the Christmas holidays. A Kensington Palace source told The Telegraph: "The decision not to attend the lunch was made some time ago."

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