With two new nephews in the family, Christmas is set to be an exciting time in the Middleton household and now youngest sibling James has opened up about what the festive season with Kate and Pippa is really like.
In an interview on German TV channel, Leute Heute, the entrepreneur described how Christmas is all about family and gives the Middletons a chance to ‘regroup’.
His comments suggest that the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge may once again skip Christmas at Sandringham with with Queen in favour of spending 25th December at the Middleton home in Berkshire.
Describing the warm reception guests can expect to receive at Michael and Carole’s £4.7million mansion in Bucklebury, Berkshire, James, 31, said: ‘I welcome people into our family home. I want it to feel like it’s their home.
‘There’ll be turkey, champagne and some wine. For me it’s all about family. It’s one where we can all regroup.’
The Duchess of Cambridge’s younger brother James Matthews, pictured at the GQ Men of the Year Awards in Germany earlier this month, has revealed he is looking forward to Christmas as it’s all about ‘family’
Prince Louis, pictured in his mother’s arms on his christening day in July, will be celebrating his first Christmas this year, alongside his parents and brother and sister Charlotte and George
This year will be the first Christmas for his sister Pippa’s newborn baby Arthur, who arrived in October, and Kate’s son Prince Louis who was born in May.
In 2016, William and Kate broke with tradition by spending the festive season with the Middletons rather than joining the Queen at Sandringham.
At the time experts said the decision was made to put the needs of George and Charlotte, who were then three and 18 months, first and give them a more relaxed experience rather than the formality of Sandringham.
This will be the second year in a row that Meghan, 37, has joined her in-laws for Christmas after she made her debut as Prince Harry’s newly-engaged fiancee last year.
William and Kate celebrated Christmas at Sandringham last year alongside Meghan Markle for the first time, but will they skip the festivities in favour of the Middletons this year?
On the guest list? Meghan’s mother Doria, pictured with her daughter at Cliveden House Hotel the night before the royal wedding May, has reportedly received an invite to Sandringham
Widespread speculation suggests she will also be joined this year by her mother Doria Ragland, 62, who lives alone in Windsor Hills, Los Angeles.
Speaking to Vanity Fair, a royal source said the invitation to Sandringham was offered partly because the Queen was so ‘impressed’ by Ms Ragland at the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex at Windsor Castle in May.
An invitation for Doria would break with royal precedent as even the Middleton family has not been invited to stay at the Norfolk estate.
The Duchess of Cambridge’s family has joined the royals at church on Christmas morning but they have stayed at nearby Anmer Hall rather than Sandringham itself.
Pippa Middleton and her husband James Matthews, pictured at Princess Eugenie’s wedding days before the birth of their son Arthur, will be enjoying their first Christmas as parents
Other possible first time attendees include newlywed Jack Brooksbank, who tied the knot with the Queen’s granddaughter Princess Eugenie, 28, last month.
Christmas at Sandringham is run like a military operation with everything from guests’ arrival time to when they eat breakfast, walk the dogs, sit down to lunch and retire to bed strictly timetabled. Even lunch on Christmas Day is pencilled in for just 50 minutes.
The Queen and Prince Philip are already in residence when the first junior Royals arrive before 9am on Christmas Eve, many driving themselves through Sandringham’s imposing gates. More senior members follow shortly afterwards.
The Queen, pictured attending Christmas Day service at Sandringham in December 2017, is usually joined by a host of relatives for the festivities
Over the next three days, they experience a deeply traditional Christmas, but one that the Royals have uniquely personalised, including ‘cheap and cheerful’ gifts given on Christmas Eve and a liking for charades at which the Queen – a superb mimic – always shines.
Female family members can’t expect to travel light with multiple outfits needed including evening gowns, day dresses, smart suits and casuals.
The Duchess of Cambridge previously revealed that On Christmas Day alone, she would have to change outfits five times.