Most people probably assume that members of the royal family spend Christmas in decadent surroundings, sitting on plush furniture and eating expensive meals. However, one royal expert points out that certain aspects of Norfolk's Sandringham Estate, where the royal family traditionally spends the holiday season, are a bit outdated.

Appearing on Mail+'s “Palace Confidential” podcast, royal editor Rebecca English elaborated on the accommodations available at one of the royal family's most famous properties. English explained, “I've heard in the past that Sandringham can comfortably accommodate 16 to 18 people.” However, not all guests necessarily sleep in comfortable beds.

“It sounds more glamorous than it really is,” English said of Sandringham. According to royal experts, guests sleep on “fish finger beds.” Fish finger beds,” she said, are ”old-fashioned beds with bedsprings that creak at the bottom.

Of course, the main house at Sandringham is not the only place the Royal Family can offer their guests. Also on the grounds is Wood Farm, where Prince Philip has lived ever since his retirement.

As to whether the Sandringham estate is really that vast, Richard Eden of the Daily Mail said, “Sandringham is one of the private estates, and it's huge. I mean, there are about 700 houses in all on the property, which is huge.” He continued, “Sandringham House itself is a private residence, so we don't know exactly how many bedrooms there are, for example.

In a recent interview with OK! magazine, Ingrid Sward, editor-in-chief of Majesty magazine, described Sandringham House as “small by royal standards,” with reportedly 29 bedrooms, but not enough space to accommodate all of the royal family for a large Christmas gathering. “Guests of honor often leave the house with no room to spare,” Ingrid Sword said. Guests often have to stay in vacant servants' quarters or cottages on the grounds,” Sward explains. But it's up to the king, because if he beckons, everyone goes.”

Princess Anne stayed in a caravan one Christmas at Sandringham because there was not enough space in the main house. Sward revealed, “One year, there were so many people that Princess Anne got a caravan for the horse show and stayed there.”