According to the official website, Sandringham is the much-loved country retreat of Her Majesty the Queen, and has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs since 1862. As King George V declared, "Dear old Sandringham, the place I love better than anywhere in the world."
Since King George VI died in 1952 at Sandringham, Queen Elizabeth II normally spends the anniversary of her father's death and her own Accession privately with her family at the House. It is her official base from Christmas until February each year. The house was first opened to the public in 1977, and there is a museum with displays of Royal life and Estate history.
On Christmas Day, the Royal Family usually go to church, and after lunch , may view The Queen's Christmas Message to the Commonwealth. As the following video shows, 2008 was no different from other years.
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The house is set in 60 acres of stunning gardens. It is probably the most famous stately home in Norfolk and is at the heart of the 20,000-acre Sandringham Estate, 600 acres of which make up the woodland and heath of the Country Park, open to the public free of charge every day of the year.
The Estate is a thriving mixed landscape, including the tidal mudflats of the Wash, woodland and wetland, arable, livestock and fruit farms, and commercial and residential properties; it is managed to a high standard and sustainably with the aims always of being financially self-sufficient and of providing a place of enjoyment not only for The Royal Family but also for the many thousands of visitors who come to see the House, Museum and Gardens or just to enjoy the Country Park.