Kate Middleton planned to ban Queen Elizabeth’s bizarre Christmas rule

“Although traditional royal routines were still observed at Sandringham, the atmosphere at Anmer Hall was noticeably more relaxed and informal,” the source said.

“It felt more like a typical middle-class family Christmas, with gifts being exchanged on Christmas Day and no ceremonial weighings taking place.”

Kate’s December calendar highlights how she’s already reshaping royal traditions. Early this month last year, she hosted her annual carol service, Together at Christmas, at Westminster Abbey, an event that has become a centerpiece of the royal festive season since its launch in 2021.

On Christmas Day, she and William attended the traditional royal church service at Sandringham with their children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

The couple also organized a Christmas gathering themselves. A royal source said the changes reflect Kate’s determination to modernize both the private traditions and the public face of the monarchy.

“Kate is determined that the holidays should feel real and inclusive, not staged,” the source said.

“In practical terms, this means doing away with the formal gift-giving rituals on Christmas Eve and abandoning the post-lunch weigh-in in favor of a celebration that resembles how most families actually spend the holidays.”