Sources say the late Princess found Sandringham’s festive rules awkward and overwhelming
Christmas at Sandringham has long followed a strict and well-worn script, but it seems Princess Diana never truly warmed to it.
According to reports, Diana struggled with the festive traditions upheld by the royal family under Queen Elizabeth II, finding parts of the experience uncomfortable and, at times, overwhelming. The Christmas and New Year gatherings at Sandringham Palace were famously structured, with expectations that everyone followed the Queen’s lead, even when it came to bedtime.
One unwritten rule reportedly frustrated Diana more than most. Family members were expected to stay up until the Queen retired for the night. Former private secretary William Heseltine once explained that evenings could stretch on with polite conversation, as no one felt it proper to leave early. Diana, however, found those long hours difficult and would sometimes excuse herself to go to bed before the Queen, something that was quietly frowned upon at the time.
Vanity Fair has previously reported that Diana described these traditions as “mortifying” and “terrifying”, and that she occasionally tried to escape the pressure of the royal festive routine altogether.
Beyond the evenings indoors, the Sandringham holiday schedule included church on Christmas morning at St. Mary Magdalene Church, along with country pursuits, parlour games, and carefully organised social time. Royal watcher Brian Hoey has also spoken about lighter traditions, including a game known as “lucky dip”, where family members would draw handwritten fortunes predicting the year ahead and read them aloud.
While these customs were cherished by many within the family, they appeared to highlight how out of place Diana often felt within the rigid royal system.
Diana died tragically in a car accident on 31 August 1997, but stories like these continue to shape how the public understands her complicated relationship with royal life, especially during moments meant to feel warm and festive.
