The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit St Marks Englefield on Christmas Day

Christmas 2016 was notable for several reasons. For one, Queen Elizabeth had a really bad, lingering cold, and she missed a lot of royal Christmas-festivities that year, for the first time ever. It was also notable because the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge spent Christmas in Bucklebury, with Kate’s family, and they basically organized their own “royal Middleton Christmas” stroll to the local church. A lot of people noted that it was almost like William and Kate were telling the world that they had their own separate court, away from Prince Charles and away from the Queen. Their royal court was the Bucklebury Court, with the Middletons at the center.

But then time passed. Meghan Markle came on the scene. And I don’t think we should underestimate how Meghan’s entrance has fundamentally changed the familial dynamics of Charles and his sons. Suddenly, William and Kate are absolutely more “keen” to spend time with Charles, where they used to shun him. And now it seems like the Bucklebury Court is going to be less of a “thing” going forward:

Sticking with Sandringham. Prince William and Duchess Kate will no longer switch off between spending Christmas with the royals and the Middleton family, an insider tells Us Weekly exclusively.

“Moving forward, Kate and William will continue to do Sandringham every Christmas Eve and Day as opposed to alternating like they used to,” the insider reveals, noting that the pair will “visit the Middleton in Berkshire later in the festive season.”

“That’s the plan this year too,” the insider continues. “With the queen and Philip’s advancing ages, skipping years isn’t an option anymore.”

[From Us Weekly]

I think this IS about the Queen’s age and Philip’s age. But I also think it’s about other stuff too. I said months ago that the Cambridges would be especially keen to spend Christmas at Sandringham this year, mostly because they would not want Meghan and Harry to get all of the headlines for the Christmas Day church-walk. And now it looks like that’s the plan going forward – Meghan and Harry will never get a chance to enjoy a royal Christmas without William and Kate.

cambridge christmas

Photos courtesy of WENN, Avalon Red.
cambridge christmas
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge visit St Marks Englefield on Christmas Day
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The Duchess of Cambridge throws a mock snowball as she takes part in a children's pretend snow ball fight during a Christmas party held at Kensington palace for families and children of deployed personnel from RAF Coningsby and RAF Marham serving in Cyprus. The Duke is Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Coningsby, Lincolnshire, which is home to Typhoon Sqns, who currently deploy to Cyprus in support of Op SHADER. RAF Marham have 31 Squadron, who are also contributing to OP SHADER. The event is being supported by The Royal British Legion in recognition of the unique contribution and sacrifices Serving personnel and their families make year round, and especially when they are separated during the festive period. The support of their families and loved ones is vital not only when personnel are serving, but through transition, recovery and civilian life after service, and The Royal British Legion ensures that those family members are supported in return.
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