I’ve covered royals’ Christmas for decades, shock hilarious comment to the public stole the show one year
ROYAL photographer Arthur Edwards has revealed the shocking moment Princess Anne stole the show one Christmas Day.
Speaking on The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, he shared how the office rang requesting photos from the royal family’s church outing of the late Queen’s only daughter.
He shared how the photographers had been “desperate” to get a photo of the then-Zara Philip’s tongue piercing, which had been a stir at the time.
However, it was Princess Anne’s remark which was the main story in the end.
Arthur shared: “We’re all desperate to get this picture of the tongue, you see, and then I’m driving back to London, and the office rang and said” Have you got a picture of Princess Anne?”
“I said, no, no, this story is about Zara Phillips and the stud.”
It turned out that Princess Anne had said a shocking three-word remark to a dedicated fan who had painstakingly crafted a flower bouquet for her.
The royal photographer told The Sun’s Royal Editor Matt Wilkinson: “She got a bouquet, Princess Anne, off one of the visitors.
“She said, ‘I’ve been up all night making this’, and Princess Anne said, ‘You must be mad’.
“And that was the story.
“Although the stars of the royal family are there – obviously Catherine and William and the children and our King and Queen – but sometimes the stories elsewhere, and I missed it, I’m afraid.”
Matt commented how he often meets royal fans on Christmas Day who have been there from 5am or 6am, and some who have flown over from America and Canada.
Arthur added: “It’s a great day. I quite enjoy it. Everybody’s very festive.
“For the King, this is Christmas, it’s a family time and he wants all the family there.”
Royal traditions
Every year the royal family flocks to Sandringham to celebrate Christmas together.
While celebrations at Sandringham are always opulent, the royals also like to let their hair down with some fun, perhaps common, party games.
The royals show their fun sense of humour when exchanging Christmas gifts. Don’t expect expensive jewellery and tech equipment, the royals instead buy each other novelty gifts.
“The name of the game is to buy cheap, witty presents,” Jennie Bond says. “The gifts are to make people laugh, not to be expensive.”
Kate once, when he was single, gave Harry a Grow Your Own girlfriend kit, while Princess Anne once gifted her older brother Charles a leather toilet seat.
Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales reportedly once gave his grandmother, the late Queen, a pair of slippers with her face on them.
She [a royal fan] said, ‘I’ve been up all night making this’, and Princess Anne said, ‘You must be mad’.
Arthur Edwards
“These gifts are opened on Christmas Eve, a German tradition the family have adhered to for many decades,” Jennie says.
“They open their presents around teatime and the gifts are all laid out on a long table covered with a white tablecloth.
“Each pile of presents has a name attached and according to Prince Harry, at an appointed moment, they all start ripping open their gifts!”
After the exchanging of gifts at 4pm, the royals get ready for the Christmas Eve black tie dinner.
“Christmas at Sandringham gets into full swing on Christmas Eve,” Jennie says.
The adults-only soiree often kicks off with a martini reception, followed by a four-course meal often featuring a course of beef.
Dessert is often chocolate – the late Queen’s favourite – as well as a cheese board.
Prince Harry wrote in his autobiography Spare how the family dines at a “long table covered with white cloth and white name cards.”
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Sussex Christmas
This year the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are reportedly not attending, and are thought to be celebrating in California.
Meanwhile, Prince Andrew won’t be joining the Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas after his “close confidant” Chinese “spy” was unmasked.
The Duke of York has decided to give the celebrations a miss this year.
It is understood his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, has also dropped out from the Norfolk festivities.
The pair are said to be staying at Royal Lodge, in Windsor, for the period instead.
Both Andrew and Fergie‘s daughters, Beatrice and Eugenie, had already chosen to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws.