Prince Harry and children

Prince Harry’s children have to follow one royal Christmas rule (Image: Chris Jackson/Getty Images and Instagram/ @meghan)

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet may be two of King Charles’s grandchildren, but they have never spent a Christmas with the Royal Family. Ever since Prince Harry and Meghan Markle quit royal life in 2020, Christmas for the couple and their children has been spent away from the UK, with the family believed to mainly celebrate the festive season at their Montecito home.

While Archie and Lilibet may therefore have never experienced certain royal festive traditions, such as the annual walk to church on the Sandringham estate, there are some traditions that Harry has carried over from his time as a royal. This includes an unusual royal Christmas rule on Christmas Eve.

Although most people in the UK open presents on Christmas Day, the Royal Family tend to follow a festive tradition that is in line with their German heritage and open presents on Christmas Eve.

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This is something that happens in Germany, along with decorating the tree.

The tradition was believed to have been introduced to the Royal Family by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert, who was German.

This is why present giving still happens among the royals on Christmas Eve at Sandringham, with Harry also keeping this as a rule in his house across the pond.

Writing in his 2023 memoir Spare, Harry described Christmas festivities in Montecito.

Harry and Meghan

Harry and Meghan last spent Christmas at Sandringham in 2018 (Image: Samir Hussein/WireImage)

He wrote: “It was Christmas Eve. We FaceTimed with several friends, including a few in Britain.

“We watched Archie running around the tree. And we opened presents. Keeping to the Windsor family tradition.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle last spent Christmas at Sandringham with the Royal Family in 2018.

Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet have never spent Christmas with their royal relatives in the UK.