Royals at Christmas: December 7th, checking in for Christmas

Dressing the part for Christmas is a hard one for royals. While the rest of us get to reach for the Christmas jumper, turning up to an engagement/ church service/ festive speech in a sweater with flashing reindeer antlers or 'Ho, ho, ho' written across the front isn't really an option. But there's nothing in the royal rule book about tartan. In fact, this ancient Scottish tradition has made it all across the continent where it's been used in many forms to add a Christmas dash when it's most needed. Here are five times the royals looked a lot like Christmas.

Princess Charlene of Monaco went for a full length kilt for the annual Christmas giving ceremony in 2013 and made sure festive fashion would never be the same again. Fabulous.

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The Duchess of Cambridge headed to church the same year in a bright blue tartan coat while Prince George stayed at home ripping up wrapping paper on his first Christmas Day

Princess Leonor took a starring role in her parents' Christmas card in 2006 in a sweet tartan print dress complete with winter wonderland background

It's almost tartan - Crown Princess Mary went for big checks on an early festive engagement this year and as she's launching a Christmas stamp, this one gets a tick and placed in the album

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She needs to look to Sandringham - this is how to do Christmas tartan. Who knows which one it is and who cares, the Queen looks stunning in a tartan coat as she walks to church in 2010. Proper Christmas.