The tradition goes back to Edward VII who sat on the throne from 1901 until his death nine years later in 1910. The then king is said to have craved concrete proof that his guests had enjoyed themselves, and it seems that weight gain was a concrete as it got in his opinion.
The little-known tradition was brought into the spotlight when it was depicted in the 2021 movie, Spencer starring actress Kristen Stewart as Princess Diana. In the film it’s revealed the hope is that each guest would weigh an extra three pounds minimum by the end of their stay, as a sign they have eaten well.
The exact weight gain total could of course be artistic license on the part of the filmmakers, as it’s never been confirmed that there is a specific weight goal in mind.
However, the film’s director, Pablo Larraín states, “We did extensive research about Diana, Royal Christmas traditions, and the anecdotes of ghosts at Sandringham House.” But it is worth noting that the movie opens with the words, ‘A fable from a true tragedy’.
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When the film came out, the scene was met with outrage, with some viewers calling the practice ‘archaic, ‘distasteful’ and ‘irresponsible’, especially given Princess Diana’s highly publicised battle with an eating disorder.
During her infamous 1995 interview with Martin Bashir, the Princess of Wales revealed, “I had bulimia for a number of years.” She went on to explain, “And that’s like a secret disease. You inflict it upon yourself because your self-esteem is at a low ebb, and you don’t think you’re worthy or valuable.”
Given how open Diana was back then and how far society has come in relation to showing sensitivity around discussions of weight and people’s bodies, some have questioned whether all this time later the family still really carry out the outdated holiday weigh-in tradition.
But royal expert, Ingrid Seward, told Grazia magazine that the practice was still a part of the royal’s Christmas get-togethers when Queen Elizabeth II was still alive, reports Buiness Insider. Therefore, her son, King Charles could well wish to uphold the family tradition going forward.
