The Royals' Christmas Sleeping Arrangements at Sandringham Sound so Unglamorous

Every year, the royals welcome the holidays by heading to sprawling Sandringham, a Norfolk country estate that serves as the base for traditions like their annual gag gift exchange and Christmas Day walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church. King Charles reportedly extended the guest list this year amid his ongoing cancer battle, but according to sources, the 45 royals that were invited might not have had the most comfortable holiday stay. Contrary to popular belief, spending Christmas at Sandringham might actually not be the luxurious palace stay that fans would expect.

While making an appearance on Mail+'s Palace Confidential podcast, royal expert Rebecca English revealed that while Sandringham can “fit about 16 to 18” overnight guests, the accommodations are dated and feature what she called “fish finger beds”–”old-fashioned beds with the really creaky bed springs at the bottom.”

“It sounds more glamorous than it is," she told The DailyMail, revealing that the family has sometimes been forced to take over staff beds to make their accommodations work. “'In fact, in previous years I've been told that they've actually had to kick staff out of their quarters,” English added. “And Edward and Sophie were put in some of the staff quarters because they had nowhere else to stay.”

While it’s unlikely that Kate Middleton, Prince William, and the Wales children spent their holidays sleeping in “fish finger beds” at nearby Anmer Hall, it’s a possibility that other senior royals had to make these uncomfortable sleeping arrangements work–especially with such a packed house at the Norfolk estate this year.

In an interview with OK! magazine, Majesty magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward echoed English’s claims that “guests often have to stay in vacated servants' quarters or cottages in the grounds.” In fact, she revealed that during one Christmas, Princess Anne was forced to use a “caravan that she used at horse shows” as a makeshift room when the main house got too crowded. While these accommodations might be ideal, people try to make it work. “If the king beckons, people go, so it's up to him,” she continued.

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