The Queen serves a cold buffet on Christmas Day for the royal family as they give staff the day off, says Mike Tindall

YOU may imagine that the royal family have an extravagant feast on Christmas Day served by their numerous staff members.  But Mike Tindall, married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara, revealed that the royals are served a cold buffet on December 25.  Speaking on JOE UK’s House of Rugby podcast, Mike, 41, shared what happened for […]

YOU may imagine that the royal family have an extravagant feast on Christmas Day served by their numerous staff members. 

But Mike Tindall, married to the Queen’s granddaughter Zara, revealed that the royals are served a cold buffet on December 25. 

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Mike chatted about the royal’s Christmas Day meal with fellow rugby stars on a podcast [/caption]

Speaking on JOE UK’s House of Rugby podcast, Mike, 41, shared what happened for the royal family last year. 

He said: “Christmas Day is a little more quiet because it’s actually a cold buffet because they give everyone the day off, and their big day is Christmas Eve.”

Mike added that they watch the Queen’s speech together “with a little glass of something”.

The former rugby star also spoke about what happens when the royals descend on Buckingham Palace for the Queen’s pre-Christmas lunch before they go to Sandringham for the main celebrations. 

During the monarch’s traditional festive feast, the Queen sits the children in a separate room and there are no crackers on the table. 

He said: “This is the other one, the family lunch, there must be about 70 of us there – there are seven tables and then the kiddies have their own little one in a different room.

“I was on Prince Charles table. It was lovely, really good.”

Mike attended the pre-Christmas party this year with Zara and their children, Mia, five, and Lena, one.

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Last year the royal family had a cold buffet for Christmas Day, according to Mike[/caption]

Senior royals including Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William, Kate Middleton and their children were all among guests.

Prince Andrew also attended the family bash, as did Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.

The royals throw an infamous secret Santa every year, with the theme ‘cheap and cheerful’, with previous presents including a shower cap for the Queen, and a white leather loo seat for Prince Charles.

But Mike confirmed they didn’t exchange their joke gifts at the lunch, adding it’s “not on that day.”

It was recently revealed the Queen ‘burst out laughing’ after receiving Meghan Markle’s novelty present last year.

This year, fans melted over ‘adorable’ Princess Charlotte after she ‘curtsies to the Queen’ at first Sandringham church appearance.