Just like the average family, members of the Queen’s household do enjoy the after-meal banter and board games the family gets together. But, the Windsors have been banned from playing the popular multiplayer game of Monopoly due to how viciously competitive they become.
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‘It Gets Too Vicious’
The Queen banned the game at family gatherings because it tended to get too competitive. It is believed that the economic-themed board game stirs up so much competition amongst members of the family that the Queen had to issue a royal decree to permanently ban it from get-togethers.
This revelation was contained in a clip on the family’s YouTube channel, titled Royal Rule Book: The Royal Family’s Strangest Rules. It says:
The royals love a good game, but Monopoly is off the cards. Prince Andrew said it is banned as it gets too vicious.
According to the Daily Telegraph, Andrew, the Queen’s third child, explained the game often generated into arguments amongst family members as 'it gets too vicious'.
International magazine, Marie Claire, also reported on the board game ban. The publication said:
In December 2008, Prince Andrew attended Leeds Building Society’s newly-refurbished Albion Street headquarters. Before he left the Duke of York was given the property board game Monopoly to mark his visit. However, Andrew had to decline the game as he reportedly revealed: 'We are not allowed to play Monopoly at home'
Tradition Goes On
What this means is that the game will not be part of planned activities as the Queen prepares to host the family for a traditional Christmas lunch at the Sandringham Palace.
This will be the first Christmas the Queen will be hosting without her late husband since 1988.
Apart from the Monopoly ban, the Windsors have Christmas traditions that they will be observing, such as attending a black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve.
They also pay homage to their German heritage by opening presents after afternoon tea on the eve of Christmas.
