Although many of her traditions are private, the princess has emerged as one of the most popular members of the Royal Family, now second only to the late Queen in popularity. The Royal Family gathers every year to celebrate the festive season, with the monarch's annual Christmas message serving as the centrepiece. The family also takes part in a Christmas Day walk to greet the public, but the majority of the House of Windsor's holiday traditions take place in private. Some of these customs may seem bizarre to others, including Catherine, who is keen to amend one particular tradition that she finds odd in changing a practice that has been around for nearly 200 years.

The future Queen is said to find it unusual for the Royal Family to exchange gifts on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas Day, a custom that stems from the Royal Family's German heritage and was established during the reign of Queen Victoria. This Christmas Eve gift-giving custom has been maintained since the Victorian era by the Queen, who preferred to keep Christmas Day focused on its spiritual significance as a devoted Christian. However, Catherine is said to prefer a more traditional British Christmas Day gift exchange, in line with her desire to project a more approachable image to the British public as part of a broader effort to modernise the monarchy.

William and Catherine plan to keep their own and their children's Christmas Day gifts at home. A friend has suggested that they intend to ditch the strange Royal tradition of exchanging cheap joke gifts rather than substantial Christmas presents. Even Prince Harry was surprised to receive a biro pen as a gift from Princess Margaret, with a small rubber fish attached to it. An unnamed friend of the Waleses noted that Catherine always found the Christmas Eve gift exchange odd, claiming that it would definitely end when they officially took power, ensuring that proper gifts were exchanged on Christmas Day.

In addition, the Princess of Wales will host a significant Christmas service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, with Kensington Palace confirming her invitation for special guests, including the children who survived the tragic stabbing in Southport, which left the community in grief after three children were killed and ten others seriously injured during a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29. Ahead of the event, the couple have been actively engaging with the families of the victims, first responders and the dance teacher who was seriously injured in the attack. Despite these anticipated changes, some Royal Traditions will remain, the annual pheasant and partridge shooting will take place on Boxing Day, although King Charles is expected to make only a brief appearance, with William expected to lead the way.

The family's customary walk to church on Christmas Day will also continue, preserving some Royal customs. After overcoming health issues earlier this year, the couple are likely to opt to skip the Christmas lunch at Sandringham hosted by King Charles and instead enjoy a more intimate gathering at their home at Amner Hall with Catherine's parents, Michael and Carole. Reports suggest that due to the larger number of attendees, Christmas dinner will be served in the White Room rather than the dining room the late Queen used. While King Charles is ushering in the changes as the new monarch, he remains determined to maintain the traditions his mother cherished. The entire royal family will attend church on Christmas morning and interact with the public afterwards. The king is also planning to spend New Year's Eve in Norfolk this year, in a departure from the usual Scottish celebrations, although sources say he will then head to the Highlands in January.