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King Charles has been kept firmly in the loop as a royal faces a festive favourite.
A beloved staple of the Royal Family’s holiday tradition, the Sandringham Christmas Day Choir has hit a sour note following a dramatic walkout and the resignation of its long-serving musical director.
The carol controversy has thrown this year’s service into doubt, and royals have left quietly humming “Silent Night” for all the wrong reasons.
The problem can be traced back to about three years ago, when the Rev Canon Paul Williams, who also happens to be the King’s household chaplain, took over as rector of St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.
With fresh vision and perhaps a little too much motivation, he volunteered to modernize the choir, and undertook an external review to “raise standards”.
Enter Tansy Castledine, former director of music at Peterborough Cathedral, who spent 18 months assessing the 25-member ensemble.
According to the 16-page report, the choir members showed “no knowledge of music or singing technique” and had a “limited repertoire”.
The resulting resignations, walkouts, and now the cloud of uncertainty hanging over the Christmas service has been nothing short of operatic, which has haunted royals and locals alike for decades.
As one palace insider put it, “It’s not the first time a play has come to Sandringham but it may be the first to involve a choir rather than corgis.”
Even the most festive corners of Sandringham are hitting a controversial note this year, as the parish choir faces a very public case of triple trouble to soundtrack the long-standing royal family’s Christmas morning.
Although a recent report praised the enthusiasm and commitment of the choristers, it struck the group as less than jolly rag, emphasizing the group’s “desire for high standards” to develop.
The criticism formed part of Rev Canon Paul Williams’ ambitious modernization drive, including plans for social media spotlights and a refreshed musical direction. But not everyone sang from the same hymn sheet.
Dr Clare Stewart, who led music at St Mary Magdalene Church for 13 years, strongly opposed the new approach.
As tensions rose, harmony gave way to hard feelings. Dr Stewart took sick leave before officially stepping down earlier this year, saying only, “It has been a pleasure and an honor to be part of the Royal Family’s Sunday service, which I have always found very supportive.”
His quiet departure created quite a crescendo. Several choir members boycotted rehearsals, families withdrew their children, and the once 25-strong group now looks noticeably thinner as Advent begins.
Rev Williams, acknowledging “mixed emotions”, gave parents a deadline to confirm whether their young singers were sticking to the move, which has hit some sour notes among parishioners.
Now, with Christmas fast approaching, uncertainty is looming over whether a full choir will be ready to perform for the Royal Family’s annual service, a hallmark of Sandringham tradition.
King Charles has been briefed on the choir controversy which is causing a royal-sized headache ahead of Christmas, while the Bishop of Norwich is also monitoring the situation closely.
Meanwhile, local anger is anything but calm. A parish insider told LBC: “Everyone is deeply upset. I’m upset, angry and disappointed especially because it should be such a special time of year with Advent and Christmas just around the corner.” It seems that even the hottest of seasons can’t drown out the sound of conflict.
Yet, amid the musical disaster, the Diocese of Norwich insists the show will go on. A spokesman assured parishioners that a number of dedicated singers have performed at Sandringham churches, singing hymns and keeping hope alive.
“There remains a full schedule of services planned in Sandringham to celebrate Christmas cheer,” he added, determined to prevent the holiday spirit from hitting a low key.
