A disagreement has emerged between King Charles III and his eldest son, Prince William, over how the royal family should observe Christmas traditions, according to a Fox News report citing royal commentators and experts.
Royal broadcaster Neil Sean told Fox News Digital that William wants to modernize certain long-standing customs, including the structured exchange of gag gifts and the public Christmas Day walk to church. “William wants to get rid of it because he believes it’s forced,” Sean initially said of the gag gift tradition, before clarifying that William’s real aim is broader inclusion and a less rigid atmosphere. “What William wants to do is include more participation from palace staff, where they could mingle. My sources tell me William enjoys the informal gatherings hosted by Princess Catherine’s family and wants to move in that direction — more family-oriented, less formal, and less about seniority.”
Another point of tension is the annual Christmas Day walk to church, a public-facing tradition that draws crowds. “William thinks this also needs a radical rethink,” Sean said. “He does not necessarily like being on display on what he views as a private and sacred day.”
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Charles, however, favors keeping the tradition intact. “For the king, it’s important to interact with the public who give up part of their Christmas Day to meet the royals,” Sean added. The divide reportedly extends to William’s wife, Catherine, who, according to Sean, “shares the same mindset as her father-in-law” on the importance of the public walk.
Royal expert Hilary Fordwich told Fox News Digital that William’s views are consistent with his broader discomfort with hierarchy. “He rejects this sort of pecking order,” she said, referring to the gift-giving tradition. “He isn’t comfortable with rigid class distinctions in general.”
While the disagreement reflects a familiar generational divide between tradition and modernization, it also presents a larger opportunity. As Charles serves as Supreme Governor of the Church of England, and William is expected to inherit that role one day, both men hold platforms that reach far beyond palace walls.
Christmas, after all, is not merely a cultural event or a ceremonial tradition, but a celebration rooted in the birth of Jesus Christ.
Tradition has its place and should not be dismissed lightly, particularly within an institution built on continuity and history. Yet the season itself points to something far greater than pageantry or protocol. With global attention fixed on the royal family each December, Charles and William are uniquely positioned to emphasize the true reason for the season: the birth of the Lord and Savior of the world.
In a moment marked by internal disagreement, the focus could shift from how Christmas is celebrated to why it is celebrated at all.
James Lasher, a seasoned writer and editor at Charisma Media, combines faith and storytelling with a background in journalism from Otterbein University and ministry experience in Guatemala and the LA Dream Center. A Marine Corps and Air Force veteran, he is the author of The Revelation of Jesus: A Common Man’s Commentary and a contributor to Charisma magazine.
