Queen Elizabeth Broke Precedent in 2006 and Invited Kate Middleton to Christmas at Sandringham — Here’s Why Kate Turned Her Down

In 2006, Queen Elizabeth broke precedent and invited Kate Middleton — Prince William’s girlfriend at the time — to Sandringham for Christmas.

Understood protocol dictated that royal partners adhere to a “no ring, no bring” rule – not to attend official royal gatherings such as the traditional Christmas at Sandringham unless they were married. Since William and Kate weren’t engaged yet – and wouldn’t be for another four years, until 2010 – Queen Elizabeth’s invitation was monumental. But Kate, who was 24 at the time, politely refused the Queen.

Kate Middleton and Prince William on the first day of the Cheltenham Horse Racing Festival on March 13, 2007 in Cheltenham, England. Indigo/Getty The Royal Family’s Christmas morning walk through Sandringham: Look back at the most memorable moments

The Queen’s invitation to Kate in 2006 was the first time she had invited a girl to Sandringham, The Daily Mail reported. “Surprisingly,” the outlet says, Kate “politely declined the offer, choosing to stick with tradition and wait until she could attend as a married woman — with a ring to prove it.”

It was proof, The Daily Mail she wrote that Kate “appreciated the importance of tradition and patience”.

In his 2020 book Battle of the Brothers: William and Harry — The Inside Story of a Family in Tumultroyal biographer Robert Lacey wrote: “By 2006, the couple had been in a serious relationship for the better part of five years. However, when William invited Kate to join him at Sandringham that year for the royal family’s traditional Christmas lunch, she declined.”

Prince William walks with his girlfriend Kate Middleton after a graduation ceremony at RAF Cranwell on April 11, 2008 in Cranwell, England. Pool/Anwar Hussein Collection/WireImage

“It was the first time the Queen had extended such an invitation to an unregistered ‘girl’, but Kate had her own take on the break with tradition: she would only go to Sandringham on Christmas Day if she was engaged and had a ring to prove it,” Lacey continued. “A resounding ‘no’ from Kate showed she was willing to respect tradition and wait until the time was right. She wasn’t ready to trample on history in her rush to marry into royalty.”

Instead of going to Sandringham, Kate traveled to Scotland to spend the holidays with her parents and family as both her grandmothers had recently died.

“Kate was incredibly sad to lose both her grandmothers and this will be the first time the family has come together since their deaths,” a friend said at the time, per The Daily Mail. “It’s a bit of a Middleton Christmas and there’s no way Kate isn’t going to be a part of it.”

Kate Middleton, Prince William’s girlfriend, with her parents Carole and Michael at the Sovereign’s Parade at Sandhurst Military Academy to watch the passing out parade.

Pool photo/Corbis/Corbis via Getty

With Kate in Scotland and William in Sandringham, “William appeared to regret her decision, and at a traditional royal party during the festive season, the prince was pictured glued to his phone,” The Daily Mail wrote. “The love-struck future king was in his own world, holding a gun under his arm but a mobile phone firmly in his hand.”

“While his uncles and grandfather enthusiastically took aim and proudly collected their kill, the then 24-year-old was furiously texting (presumably Kate),” the paper continued.

Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge and Queen Elizabeth listen to a speech as they, accompanied by Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, visit Leicester on the first date of Queen Elizabeth II’s Diamond Jubilee Tour of Great Britain on March 8, 2012 in Leicester, England. Indigo/Getty The Queen of Christmas! See all of Kate Middleton’s holiday looks through the years

Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to receive the latest news on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Sticking to her values, Kate did not attend Christmas at Sandringham until 2011, on December 25 after marrying William at Westminster Abbey on April 29 that year, almost a decade after they first met as first-year University students. Andrew in Scotland.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education