Long-held traditions cherished by previous monarchs are at risk due to the King's health issues, and Camilla has taken leave to recover from a chest infection, forcing her to cancel a number of royal engagements. Normally, everyone would know by this point which events they have been invited to, but this year the situation is uncertain. The Prince and Princess of Wales are preparing to make a big impact on the holiday celebrations, with plans to hold a heartfelt tribute to Catherine at Sandringham House in Norfolk.

The gesture will honour Catherine's many years of dedicated service. Catherine and her husband will then host a more low-key Christmas gathering at their country estate, Amner Hall, attended by their parents, Mike and Carole. Royal friends say extended family members who were at Sandringham last year, such as Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, are waiting for King Charles' health to be assessed before making any plans. Both Charles and Andrew have shown resilience.

However, they have taken contrasting approaches, highlighting the significant differences in their roles and coping mechanisms. Prior to Catherine's withdrawal from public appearances, it was noted that King Charles wanted to be seen during his cancer treatment, a stark contrast to his daughter-in-law's circumstances, which may have disappointed some of her supporters. However, the King’s thoughtful inclusion of charity in his Christmas celebrations has been a huge credit to Princess Catherine, making for a meaningful moment for her.

As a sovereign, King Charles is in a different situation to the Princess of Wales, who does not need to maintain a public presence while recovering. Catherine has chosen to keep her recovery private, focusing on her immediate family and limiting her public appearances to allow for a more personal health care process, partly out of a desire to protect her children. King Charles, by contrast, has chosen to be transparent about his own health, advocating for awareness and urging men to seek medical help.

Despite rumours that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are considering a trip to the UK for the holidays, they will not be joining King Charles and the royal family this season. In his memoir Spare, Harry described a vivid scene of family members being welcomed into the ballroom at Sandringham for a carefully planned Christmas party. However, an insider has suggested that the Sussexes are unlikely to be invited as tensions remain high.

Although King Charles wants his entire family together for Christmas, he is concerned about including the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in intimate family gatherings, which could complicate matters, especially when it comes to the Prince and Princess of Wales. He is concerned about leaks from the Sussexes, which has contributed to their lack of interaction. A former communications official who has worked with the Welsh family believes the couple intend to dominate social media with family moments during the holidays.