By Molly Claire Goddard
10:11am PST, Dec 19, 2025
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According to former royal butler
Paul Burrell, Prince William is likely to scale back the family's annual walk to church, service and lunch. "When William takes the throne, he'll be the one presiding over family Christmases at Sandringham. But they'll be much smaller than they are now," he told
Daily Express.
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For now, King Charles III is continuing the large gathering, but the guest list will be slimmer when Prince William takes over. "The King feels a duty to invite the entire family. William will not feel that same obligation. He'll invite the Middletons and his immediate family," Paul Burrell said.
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Paul Burrell also thinks Prince William could change the entire location. "They may not even use Sandringham House — it may feel too large for them. Anmer Hall, another property on the estate, would be a more fitting, more intimate setting for their Christmases," he said. "I think we're witnessing the end of an era because Sandringham has a place in time. It was built in the Victorian era. It served a Victorian court. I don't really think it has a use for the future other than to be a tourist attraction."
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Prince William previously spoke about how the monarchy will look different down the line. "I think it's safe to say that change is on my agenda. Change for good," the Prince of Wales said during an episode of The Reluctant Traveler With Eugene Levy. "I embrace that, and I enjoy that change. I don't fear it. That's the bit that excites me, the idea of being able to bring some change. Not overly radical change, but changes that I think that need to happen."
