For the third straight year, Queen Elizabeth returned to Sandringham by train on December 20, taking over a first class compartment on the 10:45 King's Cross to King's Lynn train. According to the Eastern Daily Press, the Queen entered by a side gate on platform two, not normally open to the public, and trod along a path freshly salted against ice.
The Queen wore her signature headscarf and green coat, and, judging from photographs, didn't seem to relax until she got to Norfolk, where well-informed well-wishers, a small press posse and some surprised passengers awaited and saw the Queen smile.
Queen Elizabeth now in Norfolk, Royal Christmas begins
A car met Queen Elizabeth in King's Lynn, and whisked her off to Sandringham for one of her rare true breaks from duty. At this time of year, more than any other, the routine is carved in rock; first the monarch hosts a get-together for her extended family, then she travels to Sandringham, the gifts are opened on Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day sees the Queen's Speech and church service.
This year's Christmas morning event is expected to be unusually large, with some 29 British Royals present. It should make up for last year's meager showing.
Queen has tied up loose ends in London, now home for the holidays
The last few weeks saw the Queen receiving a variety of dignitaries in Buckingham Palace, holding her final investiture ceremony (but not the last of the year; that was Prince Charles' pleasure), and opening a new museum at Windsor Castle. She also toured Dedworth Medical Center, which serves the staff of Windsor Castle, among others. The museum is located in Windsor's Guildhall, where Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall married in 2005.
The grade I listed building, designed by Sir Christopher Wren, dates to the 1687; the museum is in its Maidenhead Room, an extension from the 1830s. While the museum had opened earlier this year, Friday's event was its official opening, complete with plaque unveiling. It's not the first time the Queen had been here: According to the BBC, she also opened the Guildhall after it was renovated in 1951.
Queen's special lunch marks the beginning of Christmas for the Queen
This year, the Queen's annual party was missing two princesses: Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice had excused themselves to attend the wedding of Holly Branson, Sir Richard Branson's daughter. Princess Beatrice and Holly are good enough friends to have done the London Marathon together, and they're currently in the Caribbean for the special day of Holly Branson and Freddie Andrews. A bonus for the two is that their mother, the Duchess of York, is joining them; she is never invited to royal events.
A stream of minor and not-so minor royals -- around 50 in all -- showed up at the Palace for the special lunch, including Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall. The two will also be at Sandringham this year, though Mike has to leave on Boxing Day to play rugby for his team.
The Duchess of Cambridge came for the first time this year; attendees also included Prince Harry; Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall; Princess Anne and Vice-Admiral Timothy Laurence; Prince Andrew; the Earl and Countess of Wessex; Peter and Autumn Phillips, complete with baby bump; Lady Davina Windsor and Gary Lewis; Viscount and Viscountess Linley; Julie Ogilvy; the Duke of Kent; the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester; Daniel Chatto and Lady Sarah Chatto with a son; and Lord and Lady Freddie Windsor (Sophie Winkleman).
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Sources: Daily Mail; BBC Berkshire; Eastern Daily Press; Daily Mail (party)
Get British Royal Family news by subscribing to this column or using the RSS feed. Linda Gentile is the British Royal Family Examiner and you can also follow on Twitter and Facebook. And, for yet more British life and culture, check out Linda's British Life column.
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