By Molly Claire Goddard
8:43am PST, Dec 26, 2025
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According to former royal chef
Darren McGrady, protocol prohibits
Prince William and Kate Middleton from sharing a meal with
Prince George,
Princess Charlotte and
Prince Louis on the holiday. "Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis had to learn very early on what they can and cannot do," he
told Harper's Bazaar about the kids figuring out how to conduct "polite conversation" without their parents.
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As kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis eat in a separate location, where they also learn the rules of royal etiquette.
"The children always ate in the nursery until they were old enough to conduct themselves properly at the dining table," Darren McGrady said.
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The children also learn to diversify their taste buds. "Nanny always had control of the menu and made sure they ate balanced meals that included not only lots of healthy vegetables but also introduced them to new grown-up dishes too," Darren McGrady said.
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For their part, adults share a meal in Sandringham's green dining area on Christmas Day. "There's a long mahogany table, and the room is adorned with exotic arrangements of flowers and ferns in Victorian style," royal expert
Ingrid Seward told
The Mirror.
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According to Ingrid Seward, King Charles III likes to make it a lavish affair. "The finest crystal is brought up from the glass pantry and the china from the cellar. As far as Charles is concerned, 'What's the point in having all this fancy stuff if it's not used?'" she said.
