The Royal Family spend the festive period on the Sandringham Estate and enjoy several key traditions. One of these sees the royals follow the customs of their German heritage and open their gifts on Christmas Eve. However, it is clear that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis will also be visited by Father Christmas on the main day itself.
But when it comes to Christmas presents for members of the Royal Family, what do the people who have everything ask for? If George’s Christmas list from 2017 is anything to go by, it seems the royals just want the same as everyone else. During an engagement to Esplanade Park in Finland in 2017, Prince William handed George’s list to Father Christmas himself and revealed exactly what the then four year old wanted.
The young prince was on the Nice List that year and said he wanted a toy police car for Christmas. The throwback image delighted royal fans when it resurfaced, and many took to social media to share their thoughts on George’s very normal gift request.
One user wrote: “I like a boy who knows his own mind. And I adore that the future king’s wants are so much like any other child’s.” While another quipped: “A dad who knows Santa personally, I wanted that!” A final added: “How lovely Prince William was for giving George’s letter to Father Christmas.”
George’s request for a police car showed that he was following in his father’s footsteps. Even though William’s life was laid out in front of him from the moment he was born, there was once a time when he fancied a very different career for himself and the sweet reason behind it is all to do with his late mother, Diana, Princess of Wales.
Diana’s biographer Andrew Morton backed up the claim when he wrote about a conversation Diana had with William and Harry. He said: “William and Harry were aware of their destiny. On one occasion, the boys were discussing their futures with Diana.
“When I grow up I want to be a policeman and look after you Mummy,’ said William. Quick as a flash Harry replied, with a note of triumph in his voice, ‘Oh no you can’t, you’ve got to be king’,” Morton continued.
William later revealed that George was “obsessed” with the police. At a reception at Kensington Palace in honour of Scotland Yard, Police Commissioner Jayne Richardson told William that more officers were needed in the area.
She quipped: “We are recruiting, actually, so if George and Charlotte are keen?” William laughed and replied: “[George] is obsessed, actually, by the police… cars, toys, everything.”
