The Princess of Wales led a heartwarming Christmas Day walkabout, spending nearly 20 minutes chatting with hundreds of well-wishers gathered in the bitter cold at Sandringham.
A Festive Gathering at St Mary Magdalene Church
The royal family, led by the King and Queen, marked the high point of the festive season by attending a Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the King's private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk. Hundreds of people braved the freezing temperatures under clear blue skies to catch a glimpse of the royals as they made the short stroll from Sandringham House to the church and back.
Notably absent was the King's brother, the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to him being stripped of his royal titles. His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, chose to spend the day with the wider family, attending the walk with their husbands.
Kate's Mammoth Meet-and-Greet
While the King and Queen returned to the house after the service, the Princess of Wales remained behind for an extended engagement. Kate chatted with dozens of fans for almost 20 minutes, accepting armfuls of flowers that had to be carried away by police officers.
Her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, also received an array of gifts from the public, ranging from soft toys and boxes of chocolates to games. In a particularly touching moment, Princess Charlotte hugged well-wisher Gemma Clark, 45, after being asked for the embrace. Ms Clark, a regular at the event, presented the young princess with a bookmark and a ballerina brooch.
Another fan, Paul Clark, 75, gave Prince William a set of origami planes for his sons. William reportedly remarked that George would be able to name all the historic aircraft, such as Spitfires and Hurricanes.
A Traditional Royal Christmas Celebration
The wider royal party attending the service included the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall with their daughters, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh with their children. The group brought festive colour, with Queen Camilla in a bright red coat and matching hat.
Following the walkabout, the family was set to enjoy a traditional turkey lunch, likely sourced from Norfolk, and watch the King's Christmas message at 3pm. The royals follow the German tradition of opening presents on Christmas Eve, and this year's festive film at Sandringham was reported to be Gurinder Chadha's 'Christmas Karma', a modern retelling of 'A Christmas Carol'.
Meanwhile, the Duke of York is believed to have spent Christmas at his Royal Lodge home near Windsor Castle, which he is soon to vacate for a smaller property on the Sandringham Estate as part of his reduced royal status.
