William Likely to Axe a Christmas Tradition That Was Dear to the Queen — but Unfair to Cousin Zara

Queen Elizabeth II and Prince William, chat in the Royal Box at the Royal Albert Hall during the Annual Festival of Remembrance; (Inset) Zara Tindall attends day 2 'Super Saturday.' Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Chris Jackson - WPA Pool; (Inset) Max

Dec. 08 2025, Published 09:02 AM. ET

Prince William has long demonstrated that he has a mind of his own and is unafraid to challenge long-standing royal customs. Earlier this year, during his appearance on Eugene Levy’s Apple TV+ series The Reluctant Traveler, he emphasized that 'change is good,' and that he intends to reshape certain traditions for the better. Staying true to his stance, the future King has already outlined several practices he hopes to modernize once he ascends the throne, to strike a balance between traditions and contemporary relevance.

Kate Middleton, Prince William, and their three children during the Royal Carols - Together At Christmas service at Westminster Abbey. (Image Source: Getty Images| Aaron Chown - WPA Pool)

“I think if you’re not careful, history can be a real weight and an anchor around you,” William noted on the series, stressing that tradition should not constrain the present. “It’s important to live for the here and now,” he stressed. Now, as the royal family prepares to gather at Sandringham for their annual Christmas celebrations, reports emerge that William may scrap a treasured holiday tradition that he always saw as unfair to his cousins.

The tradition in question takes place on Christmas Eve, when the royals exchange humorous £5 ($6.6) gifts, one upheld by Queen Elizabeth and now by King Charles. The inexpensive presents are distributed in strict order of seniority, with higher-ranking royals receiving theirs first, leaving junior members to wait, often creating an awkward dynamic. William reportedly believes the formality and hierarchy don't reflect the spirit of the celebration.

Prince William, Prince of Wales, Great Master of the Most Honourable Order of the Bath, attends a Service for The Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey. (Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo) — Prince William, Prince of Wales, Great Master of the Most Honorable Order of the Bath, attends a Service for The Order of the Bath at Westminster Abbey. (Image Source: Getty Images | Max Mumby/Indigo)

"You can expect that to be one of the first things to go when he eventually hosts his first Sandringham Christmas," added a source to the Daily Mail. They further shared, "While William's mind is on much bigger changes than just the trestle table, it's well known to be one of those antiquated traditions that he's never really taken to."

The royal family is known to have a formal black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve, where guests are seated according to their titles, much to William's disdain. They are also allotted their rooms in the estate based on the same rigid protocol. The senior royal gets rooms closest to the dining, while lower-ranking family members are positioned right next to the servant quarters, which are far away from the dining area. Previously, Sarah Ferguson was assigned a room in an entirely separate suite, Wood Farm, due to her lower rank.

(Prince William speaking during the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Aaron Chown) — Prince William speaking during the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey. (Image Source: Getty Images | Aaron Chown)

These customs irk William as he particularly adores all his cousins, many of whom don't hold titles. Zara Tindall, for instance, who is not an HRH. "William adores Zara; he would hate the practice of leaving her to the back of a queue." "It's just not William's way of doing things at home, and he has apparently quipped in the past that he wouldn't continue any of that stuff, though he appreciates his father does it for the nostalgia and as a way to remember the Queen," the source explained.