11 Christmas Traditions the Kids of the Royal Family Do Every Year

When it comes to being naughty or nice, the royal kids are just as dedicated to impressing Santa as regular kids are. Now that Prince George is old enough to write — at least a little bit — he has joined in on the age-old tradition of writing a letter to Santa. What is a little less normal is that his father, Prince William, hand-delivered the letter he wrote in 2017 to Santa while on his trip to Finland. What did George want? A police car, duh!

The Earl and Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, frequently spend at least one day before Christmas at the Christmas Meeting Ascot Racecourse with their children — James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor — as well as Zara Tindall's daughter, Mia. The horse races, which are famously called the Royal Ascot, take place every June, but they also have a Christmas racing weekend, which the children love to attend. They watch the horse races and participate in other holiday festivities on the grounds.

On Christmas, the entire family (as well as the majority of the UK) gather around their TVs to watch the queen's annual address to the nation. Although it's not the funnest thing for the children, it is tradition. According to People, the viewing is usually followed by doing puzzles or going outside to play.

While the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have made it very clear that they will split their Christmas traditions with both the royal family and the Middleton family, going to mass on Christmas is something they will not miss — but the location may change. When the family doesn't spend the day with the rest of the royals, they go to Kate's family's church in Berkshire instead, as they did in 2016. They also hand out candy canes at this church, so it's a win-win for the royal children.

Despite the fact that Prince William and Kate Middleton don't always attend this service with their children, the rest of the royal family and their children attend mass at the church of St. Mary Magdalene in Norfolk every Christmas morning. They wake up early and have a private service first, so the queen can take communion, and then they go to the public service at 11 a.m. For the second ceremony, the whole family walks to the church together — led by Prince Charles — except for the queen, who is driven.

Like most families, the royal family exchanges gifts every year, but they do it on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day. While at Sandringham House in Norfolk, all of the grandchildren and great-grandchildren to the queen finish decorating the tree before opening their presents.

When it comes to the adults — think Prince William, Prince Harry, the queen, etc. — the gifts are actually gag gifts that aren't very pricey (similar to a White Elephant exchange). The kids, however, get more gifts that aren't prank presents. Plus, the children open gifts from their parents (and other side of the family) on Christmas once their mass and lunch feast are over.

In 2014, it was reported that Prince George got to see Santa for the first time at Santa's Magical Journey in Thursford, Norfolk. While Princess Charlotte wasn't around at the time, she's now old enough to join in on the Santa visit herself as a pre-Christmas treat, and maybe even Prince Louis will be there.

This tradition is currently for the little ones' parents, especially Prince William and Prince Harry, but we have a feeling Prince George will get in on the action soon. Each year on Christmas Eve, the two brothers have a soccer match with friends, family, and staff from Sandringham, and, of course, they aren't on the same team.

OK, this might be more fun for the parents, but every year there are royal portraits taken around Christmas — like Prince George's adorable pictures back in 2014 — and then Christmas cards are sent out from each royal family. It's just so freaking cute.

As Lady Louise proves here, royal children love participating in traditional British holiday fun. One such tradition that is done throughout the UK is wearing paper crowns for the holidays. Beginning back in the 1900s, these paper crowns, which unfold and are bright colors, started coming in the traditional cracker, which is a tube covered in foil and twisted at both ends and full of treats. Ever since then, the English have been rocking them while eating Christmas dinner or opening gifts.

For Christmas, everyone goes to the country. The queen resides at Sandringham, which is where the family celebrates most of their holiday traditions, and Prince William's family stays at their country home, Anmer Hall, in Norfolk. This means that there is another home to decorate for the holidays, and according to Us Weekly, Prince George gets in on the decorating fun. He helps pick out a few ornaments, trim the tree, and choose the star tree topper.

As for the kids' holiday stockings, they do that with style as well. Both George and Charlotte get personalized Santa sacks (which are big) that are placed on the end of their beds on Christmas Eve, and Prince Louis might join the fun this year as well. When they wake up, there are presents inside them, delivered by "reindeer delivery." Unlike other children in Britain, the princes and princess have crowns printed atop their stockings, because, you know, they're royalty.