Christmas at the Palace
Where to watch
United States16 ways
United Kingdom6 ways
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The premise
A king who is struggling to live up to his father's name hires an ice skating choreographer for a special Christmas Eve performance to celebrate the founding of his nation.
How unusual is it?
More than most. Royalty pushes it well past the usual Hallmark template — the strangest 18% of everything we've logged.
Who’s in it
Behind the camera
ShowHide
Directed by
Written by
Wait, what?
The quirks and curveballs that make this one a little weirder than your average Hallmark. No spoilers, promise.
- The King's approval rating is explicitly tied to his 'Grinch' status in the national press.
- The kingdom was literally founded on Christmas Eve by people skating across a frozen lake.
- Katie justifies eating chocolate by claiming it is a 'salad' because cocoa comes from trees.
Every trope, all in one place
Here’s everything this one has going on, from the setting to the way it wraps up. Tap any of the 32 to find more movies that do the same thing.
Time & season3
Premise1
Characters7
Romance6
Tone & quirks7
How it ends2
Why we’d put this one on
Merritt Patterson is a former pro figure skater hired to choreograph a royal Christmas Eve pageant for King Alexander, played by Andrew Cooper, whose people have nicknamed him the Grinch King in the national press. The lore is delightful: the kingdom of San Senova was supposedly founded on Christmas Eve by people skating across a frozen lake, and the king's actual approval rating tracks how grinchy he seems. Patterson's skater also justifies eating chocolate by insisting it is salad, since cocoa comes from trees. At a 6.3 with a weirdness of 6, this is cozy ice-and-royalty fluff with skating and a thawing monarch. Perfect for a snowy night.
How it all plays out
Already seen it, or just can’t wait? Open this up for the whole story, ending included.
Full story (spoilers)
The film begins with professional skaters Katie Hendricks and Jessica Lewis finishing a four-year global tour. They plan to return to New Jersey to buy an ice rink and start a training center, finally finding a permanent 'home.' Their final stop is San Senova, a tiny kingdom founded on Christmas Eve. King Alexander, known as the 'Grinch King' for his stoic and business-like approach to the holidays, is pressured by his aunt Patricia and daughter Christina to show more Christmas cheer. After Christina meets Katie and Jessica at their show, she convinces her father to hire them to stage a Founder's Day pageant—an ice-skating retelling of the kingdom's origin story. Alex offers a generous fee that would secure the purchase of Katie's dream rink, so she and Jessica agree to stay at the palace for two weeks.
As rehearsals begin, Katie and Alex clash over his lack of holiday spirit, but they bond when Katie helps him personalize Christmas gifts for the palace staff, leading to a late-night session of making handmade stockings. Katie learns that Alex's coldness stems from the loss of his father and wife. Meanwhile, Jessica suffers a sprained ankle, forcing Katie to overcome her fear of returning to the ice after a past injury to play the lead role of the Queen. A romantic spark develops between Katie and Alex, culminating in a moment under the 'Christmas Star' where Alex admits he is ready to find love again. However, the pressure of the national spotlight and a sudden real estate deadline in New Jersey cause a misunderstanding. Feeling that a royal life is impossible and that she must secure her future, Katie leaves for America.
In New Jersey, Jessica realizes Katie is heartbroken and encourages her to 'reopen her heart,' a piece of advice Katie's late mother used to give. With the help of Nicholas, the King's advisor, Jessica arranges for Katie to return to San Senova just in time for the pageant. Katie surprises Alex on the ice, and they perform the pageant together. Alex gives a moving speech about the true meaning of home and family, earning the title of the 'New Christmas King.' The film concludes with Alex and Katie confessing their love; Katie decides to stay in San Senova to run a permanent ice show at the palace, finally finding the home she was looking for.
Beat by beat
Opening
Katie and Jessica arrive in San Senova for the final stop of their skating tour, dreaming of opening a rink back home.
Inciting Incident
King Alexander hires Katie to choreograph a Founder's Day pageant to fulfill his daughter's wish and repair his 'Grinch King' reputation.
Midpoint
Jessica is injured, forcing Katie to face her fears and take the lead skating role in the pageant.
Complication
Katie and Alex bond over handmade stockings, but the pressure of royal duty and a New Jersey real estate deal creates a rift.
Climax
Katie returns from New Jersey at the last minute to perform in the pageant and reconcile with Alex.
Resolution
The pageant is a success, Alex is dubbed the 'Christmas King,' and Katie agrees to stay in San Senova to start a permanent show.
32 tropes in one movie
We counted 32 distinct Hallmark tropes packed into this one — a genuine greatest-hits reel.
How it stacks up
Where this one’s rating lands against every other rated Hallmark movie.
Higher-rated than 38% of every rated Hallmark movie. The median is 6.4.
Where this one fits
The corners of the catalog Christmas at the Palace belongs to — handy if you’re after more of the same.
Lines worth quoting
The lines that stuck with us — the ones you’ll be repeating after the credits roll.
“What are you, some sort of Christmas quote book?”
— King AlexanderWhen Katie keeps reciting Christmas quotes to him during their first meeting. “How is my father the Christmas King, and I'm the Grinch King?”
— King AlexanderDiscussing his public image with Nicholas. “Christmas is a time when we open our hearts. Or reopen them. Even when we're scared.”
— Jessica LewisEncouraging Katie to go back to San Senova.
Meet the characters
Who’s who before you press play. Nothing here gives the ending away.
Katie Hendricks
LeadProfessional Skater and Choreographer
Christmas-obsessedTalentedFearful of injuryKind-heartedKing Alexander
Love interestKing of San Senova
Romantic interest
StoicPracticalGrievingDevoted fatherPrincess Christina
SupportingPrincess
Student and future step-daughter
PersuasiveAspiring skaterOptimisticJessica Lewis
SupportingProfessional Skater
Best friend and business partner
AmbitiousLoyalMatchmakerNicholas
SupportingRoyal Advisor
Friend of the couple
HumorousLoyalWise
Questions people ask about Christmas at the Palace
Where can I watch Christmas at the Palace?
Christmas at the Palace is available via fuboTV, YouTube TV, and Philo. Streaming options change often, so check current availability before settling in.
How long is Christmas at the Palace?
Christmas at the Palace runs about 1 hour and 23 minutes, and was released in 2018.
Is Christmas at the Palace a Christmas movie?
Yes. Christmas at the Palace is a Hallmark Christmas movie, set during the holiday season.
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Data and sources
Curated by the Talking Hallmark team.Last updated .