Christmas is a big occasion for any family, none less the Royals, but an expert on the Royal Family has now explained how Kate Middleton "puts duty before self" for the festive season.

The 39 year old will be spending Christmas as Sandringham with her husband Prince William, also 39, children Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, as they rally around The Queen on her first Christmas without her late husband Prince Philip.

Expert Katie Nicholl has told OK! Kate puts her work as a senior Royal before her personal life every year.

She said: "In the early years of being a family, they did try to alternate Christmas, one year with The Queen and the Royal Family and the next year with the Middletons, but Kate and William put duty before self and we can see that, more now than ever.

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"So there is a sacrifice on Kate's part because Christmas is a very big thing for the Middleton family, but they put The Queen first and make sure they are there on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day at Sandringham.

"But, it's probably a lot of fun for the Cambridge children that they get to celebrate Christmas twice – once with their great-grandmother and the Royal Family and then again with the Middletons at their Bucklebury home."

Katie also told us that, while George, Charlotte and Louis will, no doubt, be asking for the latest high-tech presents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge prefer to give "practical" gifts.

She told us: "George enjoys his iPad at school, both he and Charlotte are quite tech-savvy and, like most children, there probably are technical gadgets and such like on their wish list.

"I'm sure they're not going to want for anything, but when it comes to technology and screens, they are careful not to spoil them with extravagant gifting."

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Katie continued: "If it is something that happens to be a computer game or something like that then they are cautious of screen time so it could be a more practical gift."

The Royal expert then shared some insight into what George and Charlotte's father William has previously bought his kids for Christmas.

"One year William gave Kate a pair of binoculars so that's the sort of gift they appreciate," Katie said.

"It's something that can be used outdoors or something that will last forever and isn't just a passing phase or fad."

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