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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Jennifer Newton

King's ex-butler tells of unusual royal Christmas meat and solves Yorkshire pud debate

For many the best part of Christmas is sitting down to a huge traditional dinner that includes turkey, pigs in blankets and all of the trimmings.

And it has long been said that the royal family like nothing more on Christmas Day to sit down to a vast traditional lunch including Christmas pudding.

The massive feast is usually served after the family gets back to Sandringham House after completing the traditional walk to and from church on Christmas morning.

But it's not just turkey that they tuck into on Christmas Day, according to a former royal butler Grant Harrold, they sometimes also have a second meat on offer.

Prince William and Kate with their two oldest children George and Charlotte (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Grant, who worked for King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla for seven years in the mid-to-late 2000s, told the Mirror that they sometimes have goose on offer too.

He told the Mirror: "I heard that as well as the turkey, they have goose for lunch which is very traditional and what we had at Christmas before turkeys."

So which side of the debate does he think the royals lie on when it comes to whether it's appropriate to have a Yorkshire pudding on a Christmas dinner?

The royals are all gathering for Christmas (PA)

He explained: "Hand on heart, I don't know. However, I think with the royals, they are quite traditional and if Yorkshire puddings aren't meant to be eaten with turkey, they won't have them.

"So no I don't see them having them with their Christmas dinner and the turkey."

This festive season will be the first since the sad death of the late Queen three months ago and Charles' accession to the throne.

A wider circle of royal guests are said to be attending the poignant festivities including Camilla's children Tom and Laura - the first time they've been invited to royal Christmas.

It will be the first Christmas hosted by King Charles (REX/Shutterstock)

And according to Grant, it will be a bittersweet time for the royals. He added: "I think for them it will very emotional this year and I've no doubt there are tears that will be shed on the day or the night before because they will be remembering her.

"But I'm sure as well it will be a fun time for the youngsters and it will also carry on how the Queen would have wanted it to."

When it comes to the Sandringham celebrations, under the late Queen they would always follow a set tradition.

This includes a gift exchange on Christmas Eve, attending church together on Christmas morning and tucking into a traditional Christmas lunch.

And even though it is Charles in charge now, Grant believes very little will change - although the King may forego one of his mother's traditions.

He added: "Knowing what the King is like, I think he will try to mirror everything that has been done in the past.

"But what is interesting is, I don't think he will stay there until February like the Queen used to do to mark her own father's passing. I don't see him doing that and I don't think his schedule will allow it."

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