In December 2018, the British royal family gathered at Sandringham to celebrate Christmas, a long-standing tradition. It was the last time that Kate, William, Harry and Meghan spent the holidays together, before internal tensions disrupted their relationship, announcing profound changes for the monarchy and the future of the Windsors.
That was already six years ago! The last Christmas of the Fab Four (Kate, William, Meghan and Harry) at Sandringham (PHOTOS)
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Sandringhamthe emblematic residence of the royal family, has for decades been the scene of Christmas celebrations. Every year, members of royalty gathered there to share family moments, away from prying eyes. The arrival of Meghan Markle in this family tradition was particularly expected. She took her first steps there at the end of 2017, a year after getting into a relationship with Harry. But in 2018, it was as a wife that Meghan, then just married to Harry, participated in the festivities. Everyone was of course unaware that these were the last that Kate, William, Harry and Meghan (the Fab Four) were going to spend together…
Well-established traditions in Sandringham for the Christmas holidays
The Christmas of 2018although closely observed by the media around the world, scrupulously respected the royal traditions. The couple Harry and Meghan, accompanied by Prince William and Kate Middleton, took part in the famous Christmas mass at the Sainte-Marie-Madeleine church. At their side was the roi Charles IIIwho was at the time only Prince of Wales. The image of the members of the royal family walking side by side, greeting the spectators gathered behind the barriers, left an impression.
The photos from this day showed a moment ofunit and of friendliness. Charles, Meghan and Harry appeared smiling, exchanging light words with the audience who came to see them. In a series of photos widely reported in the press, Meghan looked very comfortable, radiant in her elegant coat, while Harry cast a knowing look at his father. These captured moments demonstrated the royal family's ability to maintain warm appearances in public, highlighting the importance of sharing these centuries-old traditions with the British people. As Richard Fitzwilliams, royal commentator, points out in the English press: “Christmas 2018 was a key moment for the monarchy, an opportunity to show the public a facade of unity, despite growing internal tensions.”
Beyond the mass, the Christmas festivities at Sandringham followed a program immutable. The royal luncha true institution, was orchestrated by star chefs who prepared dishes combining British gastronomy and festive flavors. Every detail, personalized Christmas crackers with calligraphed menu cards, demonstrated the refinement of this celebration. After the meal, a more informal moment brought the family together around board games and exchanges of humorous giftsa tradition that contrasted with the strict protocol usually observed at the palace.
The integration of Meghan, issue of this year 2018
THE children of the royal family also played a central role in these festivities. George, Charlotte (Louis was only a few years old at the time), Kate and William's children, brought a touch of lightness to the atmosphere with their laughter and their playfulness. Their natural enthusiasm helped refocus attention on theChristmas spiritfar from protocol considerations or media issues. In 2018, Meghan and Harry had not yet welcomed their first child, Archiebut the prospect of this future birth contributed to the joyful atmosphere of the event.
However, Christmas 2018 was not completely free of difficulties. It was a special period for the monarchy, marked by the integration of Meghan Markle within the royal family and the adjustments that such a development may have required. The tensions evoked by the press, although greatly amplified, reflected the complexity of managing such diverse personalities and life paths within a thousand-year-old institution. According to Penny Junor, royal biographer: “Integrating Meghan has been a complex challenge, but the Queen has ensured that the family appears united during these Christmas celebrations, despite the rumours.” Ce Christmas is therefore remembered as a time whenfamily unit prevailed in appearance, illustrated by smiles and warm gestures captured in photographs.
Queen Elizabeth's role in preserving traditions
The reine Elizabeth IIcentral figure and pillar of the monarchy, played a crucial role in these celebrations. Aware of the changes and challenges that the royal family has faced, she has ensured that the traditions remain a unifying force. By inviting Meghan and Harry to fully participate in the festivities, she sought to include the new generation while preserving the centuries-old customs that are an integral part of the identity of the British monarchy.
The Christmas of 2018 is often considered a hinge point in the recent history of the British monarchy. If this celebration still marked a certain unity, it was also the prelude to events which profoundly reshaped the royal family. A few months after that Christmas, Meghan and Harry announced their decision to step back from their royal duties, triggering a series of media and institutional upheavals.
The Christmas of 2018 leaves an ambivalent legacy. On the one hand, it recalls the values of solidarity and of tradition which characterize the royal family. On the other hand, it highlights the challenges that this institution must face to stay in step with a constantly changing world. In 2023as the royal family evolves under the aegis of King Charles III, the lessons of this Christmas 2018 remain relevant. The balance between tradition et modernitythe management of diverse personalities within the family and the relationship with the media are all challenges that the monarchy must continue to meet. One thing is certain, this year again, Christmas will be celebrated without the prince Harry nor his wife Meghan Markle.
