Kate Middleton Christmas Plans: Spending Holiday With Pippa, Queen

Kate's First Royal Christmas

If newlyweds Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton, were hoping to spend their first Christmas alone, they've had to think again. The couple will be joining William's royal family at Sandringham House, but in a break from royal protocol, Kate's younger sister, Pippa, will also be in attendance.

"Usually Sandringham is reserved for members of the royal family and their spouses only," one royal insider tells me. "The day after Christmas allowing Pippa to join the family is very unusual. The Queen's Norfolk estate is the most private club in the world. The only way you can get in is if you are royal or married to a member of the royal family. Otherwise you need a personal invite from the queen."

Sources told the UK's Daily Mail that "Kate will, of course, miss her family on Christmas day -- she has traditionally spent it with them and wants Pippa to join her at Sandringham on Boxing Day because it will make being apart from her family at Christmas a little easier. Pippa's very keen to go and she's been on a couple of shooting weekends to make sure she won't let the side down" at the queen's traditional pheasant shoot.

A senior palace aide has confirmed that William and Kate will be spending the holidays with the queen at Sandringham but would not confirm any other guests.

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