Princess Diana ‘hated’ Christmas and was left ‘mortified’ by tradition | Royal | News

According to royal biographer Andrew Morton, the late Princess Diana, who died tragically in 1997, not only disliked Christmases at Sandringham, but was “embarrassed” when she learned of a tradition carried on by the family every year.

Mr Morton, author of the best-selling book Diana: Her True Story, said the late princess spent her first Christmas at Sandringham in 1981 and brought “thoughtful and expensive gifts” to the family. Vanity Fair’s report.

But little did Diana know, members of the Royal Family preferred to give each other joke gifts instead; Princess Anne reportedly once gave Diana a toilet paper holder as a joke.

According to The Mirror, Princess Diana told author Mr Morton: “It was very worrying. I know I gave but I don’t remember being the recipient. Isn’t that awful?”

“I do all the gifts and Charles signs the cards. [It was] Horrible and very disappointing. No loud behavior, lots of tension, silly behavior, stupid jokes that outsiders would find strange but insiders would understand.”

On Christmas Eve, the royal family takes inspiration from their German roots and exchanges gifts on December 24.

Located on 20,000 acres in Norfolk, England, the Sandringham estate has been loved by several generations of royalty, dating back to the early 20th century.

Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth II. Thanks to Elizabeth, it became the Firm’s unofficial holiday destination in the late 1980s.

Following his long-awaited release from Royal Lodge early next year, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor will reportedly move into a “shoebox-sized” cottage on Sandringham Estate at his brother King Charles’ expense.

The former Duke was stripped of his remaining titles and privileges in November 2025 following new revelations about his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Andrew’s new home is currently undergoing extensive renovations ahead of his arrival, and it is thought he will move into the mansion in early 2026.