Everything you need to know about the Church of St. Mary Magdalene, where the Royal Family celebrates Christmas at Sandringham

<strong>This content was adapted from <i>HELLO! Canada</i>'s <A href=https://ca.hellomagazine.com/royalty/02019111853732/hello-canada-christmas-special-issue>special Christmas issue</a>, which is available to purchase now!</strong> <p>St. Mary Magdalene – a.k.a. Sandringham Church – has been the go-to worship spot of the Royal Family and its staff since <a href=/tags/0/queen-victoria><strong>Queen Victoria</a></strong>’s reign, whether for prayer, baptisms or funerals. <strong><a href=/tags/0/princess-eugenie>Princess Eugenie</a></strong> and <strong><a href=/tags/0/princess-charlotte>Princess Charlotte</a></strong> were both christened there, as was <a href=/tags/0/queen-elizabeth-ii><strong>the Queen</a></strong>’s father, <strong><a href=/tags/0/king-george-vi>King George VI</a></strong>. <a href=/tags/0/princess-diana><strong>Lady Diana Spencer</a></strong>, who would eventually marry <strong><a href=/tags/0/prince-charles>Prince Charles</a></strong>, was also baptized within its walls, in 1961. <p>But Christmas is when the parish church truly radiates joy and when locals have the chance to get up close and personal with the growing royal clan. <p><strong>Click through the gallery (or keep scrolling if you're on mobile) to see some of the Royal Family’s biggest milestones at the church.</strong> <p>Photo: &copy; Radcliffe/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
<p>Made of carrstone, the historic building on the Queen’s Sandringham Estate in Norfolk dates back to the 16th century, though it was restored twice in the 1800s. Step inside and it’s a heavenly treat with magnificent gilded woodwork, panelled walls and exquisite stained-glass windows. <p>Photo: &copy; Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
U.S. department store owner Rodman Wanamaker commissioned the impressive silver altar and the ornamental screen covering the wall, and then gifted them to <Strong>Queen Alexandra</strong> – along with a silver 17th-century Spanish processional cross – in memory of her husband, <strong>King Edward VII</strong>, when he died in 1910. Rodman was also responsible for the silver pulpit. <p>The church also notably contains two Florentine and Greek baptismal fonts that date from the 9th century. <p>Though the House of Windsor’s Christmas service is a family affair, the chapel is open for Sunday worshippers and tours throughout the year. <p>Photo: &copy; Wikipedia
Upon <strong>King George V</strong>’s death at Sandringham in 1936, his body rested at the church before moving to Westminster Hall for public viewing. <p>Photo: &copy; The Print Collector/Print Collector/Getty Images
Fifteen years later, his son, <strong><a href=/tags/0/king-george-vi>King George VI</a></strong>, also passed away at Sandringham. His body stayed at the church for two days prior to being taken by funeral procession from Sandringham to London, where he then laid in state again at Westminster Hall before his funeral. <p>Photo: &copy; Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images
In 1985, the <strong><a href=/tags/0/british-royals>Royal Family</a></strong> had the joy of a rare white Christmas at the church. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
Two days before Christmas Day 1990, nine-month-old <strong><a href=/tags/0/princess-eugenie>Princess Eugenie</a></strong> – surrounded by her proud parents, uncles, aunts and cousins – became the first royal baby to have a public christening at Sandringham Church. <p>Photo: &copy; Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty Images
In 2015, two-month-old <strong><a href="/tags/0/princess-charlotte">Princess Charlotte</a></strong> (whose middle names are Elizabeth and Diana after her great-grandmother and late grandmother) was christened at the same church as were her namesakes. <p>Photo: &copy; Mary Turner - WPA Pool/Getty Images
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