Report By: Nina Rai

London, 18 Dec., 2011:

Next week the Duchess of Cambridge is due to spend her first Christmas at Sandringham. But, will Kate MiddletonKate Middleton have to fear ghostly apparitions more than the family’s daunting festive customs and traditions.

This is against the backdrop of the royal family’s belief handed down since times of yore that the 18th Century Norfolk Mansion is haunted. No doubt, the strong-willed Princess Kate will be given a strict list of what she has to wear, where to go, when to eat, etc. But above all she is likely to be given sound counseling on the ghostly apparitions of dead relatives and servants moving about the alleged haunted property.

A royal courtier reveals that everyone knows that there are ghosts, as many of them have seen it, including Prince CharlesPrince Charles. There are certain old segments of the house where no one dares to go or be alone. “Kate will be told all about them. If she goes wandering around the house alone she could be in for a nasty ­surprise,” adds the courtier.

Way back in the mid-1980s, Prince Charles is understood to have gone searching for some old prints with his valet Ken Stronach. Suddenly they both felt a chill and were positive there was someone standing behind them, yet no one was apparently seen. It was then that Prince Charles had shrieked out ‘Oh heck!’ grabbing the first print found, and dashed out as fast as he could, obviously ­petrified; informed the shadowy source.

Further, according to the source there were several similar incidents in the library. Like in a typical horror movie, he spoke of the reality of how there was an old clock in the library, the hands of which would, sometimes, start moving by ­itself. The source also disclosed of a chilling incident when in a smaller segment of the mansion's library a servant once had a nap, when he suddenly found himself woken up to find “books flying from the shelves,” all by themselves.

Shaun Croasdale a footman in 1996 ran away from the cellar screaming after seeing what he says was the ghost of the Queen’s ­favorite ­servant, Tony Jarred, who had died only the previous year. In fact Shaun was called by the Queen to disclose his experience. The source goes on to say that the Queen believed every word. “There was never any ­question of him being sacked for going potty!” he added.

For the first time Kate Middleton will be spending Christmas away from her parents, as she is required by tradition to spend the holiday with her in-laws. There are several events planned for the Duchess of Cambridge. Meanwhile, on a note of caution author Phil Dampier, who wrote “What’s in the Queen’s Handbag: And Other Royal ­Secrets,” revealed that the Queen always believed in ghosts. But “One thing Kate must not do is make a joke about them,” he declared.

Source: Mirror UK