What Do the Royals Do For New Year's Eve?

The Queen and Prince Philip

Once the immediate family has left Sandringham just after Christmas, the queen and Prince Philip usually invite friends and other family members to stay with them over the new year. It's pheasant-shooting season, which has always featured high on their chosen list of activities, and they always attend church on New Year's Day. The queen often kicks off the new year with a bracing ride on one of her beloved horses.

1 / 5

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge

Image Source: Getty / Pool

William and Kate love welcoming in the new year with a cozy country house party. Even before she was married, Kate — along with her family — booked a holiday home in Scotland to celebrate the occasion, while she and William celebrated their first post-wedding new year in the Middleton's back garden. Kate's sister Pippa once hired a luxurious tipi-style "kata" that's usually used by reindeer herders. This one, however, is fancier, complete with a dance floor and big enough to fit 100 guests. William and Kate often spend NYE with the Middleton's, although in 2012 when Kate was in the early stages of her pregnancy with Prince George, William was on Search and Rescue duty and was called out in the early hours of the morning to look for a man who had been swept into the sea just after midnight. Meanwhile, Kate was in Berkshire with her family.

2 / 5

Prince Harry

Image Source: Getty / Chris Jackson

Harry's tastes are eclectic. When he was dating Chelsy Davy, he often used to head for the African sun as soon as Christmas was over, and the lovebirds welcomed 2008 with a trip to Mauritius. As a bachelor, he headed to the Swiss ski resort of Verbier with friends and Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie. In 2013, he ate at the Crooked Billet pub in Berkshire, and last year he vacationed in LA, where it was reported he had a holiday romance with American PR Juliette Labelle. Will he and new love Meghan Markle be reunited in time to welcome 2017 together?

3 / 5

Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Image Source: Getty / Jeff J Mitchell

After they spend the festive period with their respective families, the couple usually heads for the wilds of the Scottish Highlands. Their home, Birkhall, is located on the queen's Balmoral estate and used to belong to the Queen Mother. Last year wasn't much of a celebration, however, as the local river burst its banks and totally destroyed the garden that Charles had spent years restoring as a tribute to his late grandmother.

4 / 5

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie

Image Source: Getty / Dave M. Benett

The princesses are usually keen to escape overseas with their partners, friends, and/or mother as soon as their royal Christmas is done. In 2011, they were in Verbier with a group that included Prince Harry, and in 2014, Beatrice holidayed in St. Barts on the yacht of steel tycoon Lakshmi Mittal with her then-boyfriend, Dave Clark. Last year, Beatrice once again headed for St. Barts — this time staying at the home of Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, while Eugenie celebrated in Burma with her boyfriend Jack Brooksbank.

5 / 5