Kate Middleton and Prince William will spend the Christmas holiday with the pregnant Duchess' family in a major break from tradition, according to reports.
After suffering from acute morning sickness in the first weeks of her pregnancy, they opted for the comfort of Kate's family, a St. James Palace spokesman said.
Queen Elizabeth II, William's grandmother, approved of the idea.
Kate Middleton and her husband will visit her hometown, Bucklebury to celebrate the holiday "privately with the Middleton family," according to the Palace.
Since his marriage to Kate in April 2011 and even prior to that, William has made no secret of the fact that things will not always be done in traditional fashion.
In some ways they are acting like any other young, married couple, alternating between both sets of families during the holiday season. Hard to argue with that.
Moreover, William is also particularly close to his in-laws, and this is a signal he wants to involve them as much as possible in his married life with Kate Middleton.
In another break with age-old custom, the couple's first-born child will be the heir(ess) to the throne behind Princes Charles and William, regardless of gender.
A Palace source says the couple will visit Sandringham, Norfolk, where the Queen, husband Prince Philip and the rest of the royals are gathering later next week.
