Prince William, Princess Kate, King Charles and Queen Camilla lead Beatrice and Eugenie and other royals for Christmas Day Sandringham church service – as parents Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson stay away
The Prince and Princess of Wales, King Charles and Queen Camilla, delighted royal well-wishers as they led other senior royals and waved to adoring crowds gathered outside Sandringham on Christmas Day.
Kate and William were joined by their children Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10) and Prince Louis (7).
Camilla wore a festive red coat and stylish hat as she walked alongside a smiling King Charles on a sunny but warmingly fresh Thursday morning.
The royal family will attend an hour-long service at the church before gathering to attend a lunch hosted by the monarch.
Fans were also delighted to see the King’s nieces Beatrice and Eugenie turn up for the family reunion, despite their parents not attending.
The King’s younger brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were excluded from the guest list after being mired in scandal following revelations of their relationship with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
The hope of catching a glimpse of the youngsters as they walk towards the church is a big draw for royal fans who gather near the church in Sandringham every year.
Other expected family members include the King’s other brother Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, son James Viscount Severn, 17, and daughter Lady Louise, 22.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, her daughter Zara and son-in-law Mike Tindall, and their three children Mia (11), Lena (7) and Lucas (4) are also on the guest list.
Kate had a wide smile on her face as she arrived at Sandringham with 10-year-old Princess Charlotte.
Camilla wore a festive red coat and stylish hat as she walked alongside King Charles
Kate and William were joined by their children Prince George (12), Princess Charlotte (10) and Prince Louis (7).
Queen Camilla looked in a cheerful mood as she headed to church service
Royal well-wishers smiled and waved as the monarch led other members of her family
Kate looked at her daughter tenderly as they walked hand in hand towards the ceremony.
Anne’s son Peter Phillips will also attend, along with his two daughters, Savannah and Isla.
Earlier this year, Peter announced his engagement to girlfriend Harriet Sperling.
The rule that only married couples can now attend has been relaxed; Most likely, King Charles wanted him to join the family. He has previously met the King, Queen and members of the wider family at events such as Royal Ascot.
The royal family was watched by a crowd of fans who queued for hours to catch a glimpse of the family.
70-year-old John Loughrey, who was first in the queue outside the Sandringham War Memorial gate, took his place at 21.00 yesterday evening.
Mr Loughrey, from Wandsworth, south-west London, spent the night sitting on a folding chair outside the door and said: ‘It was cold but I had heating pads in my jumpers and hand warmers.
‘There’s something special about sharing Christmas Day with royalty at Sandringham.’
Mr. Loughrey arrived armed with a portrait he had drawn himself and which he hoped to pass on to Prince William.
‘I met him [many] Many times before,” said Mr Loughrey.
‘I last saw William at the Centrepoint homeless charity a few weeks ago and told him I was bringing a special gift to Sandringham.’
Behind Mr Loughrey in line were American husband and wife Margie and Jeff Brooks, their daughter Elizabeth Brooks, 29, and her husband Caleb Brewer, 30.
Royal fan John Loughrey, 70, from Wandsworth, south-west London, spent the night sitting on a folding chair outside the door to be the first in line.
Behind Mr Loughrey in line were American husband and wife Margie and Jeff Brooks, their daughter Elizabeth Brooks, 29, and her husband Caleb Brewer, 30.
Noele Fowler, 65, and her husband David, 66, of Toronto, Ontario, were taking their daughter Jackie, 35, to Sandringham for a Christmas present.
Ms Brooks, 62, from Fort Worth, Texas, said: ‘This is the highlight of our week-long vacation.
‘We arrived from London yesterday and will be returning there this afternoon.
‘We all love the royal family, especially [our daughter] Elizabeth’.
The 29-year-old actor tried to stay warm by wearing a thick hat and said: ‘Apparently it’s 80 degrees Fahrenheit (26.6C) at home, but I wouldn’t miss it.’
Mr Brooks, 63, said: ‘I went to London for Charles and Diana’s wedding in 1981 because I was studying at Oxford at the time.’
Also in line were royal watchers from Israel and Canada.
Noele Fowler, 65, and her husband David, 66, were treating their daughter Jackie, 35, to a trip to Sandringham as a Christmas gift.
The family, from Toronto, Ontario, is spending a week in the UK, combining 48 hours in Norfolk with visits to relatives in Guildford, Surrey.
Jackie said: ‘I’ve always been interested in royal history, starting with the Tudors. ‘It’s a pleasure to be here.’
Those not attending this year include Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson, who are said to be unwelcome at the celebrations following multiple revelations about their dealings with pedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein.
It will be the second year that the king’s brother and his ex-wife have not attended. Last year, they pulled out of the celebrations just 10 days before Christmas after Andrew’s links to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo were revealed.
The former couple will spend one last Christmas at Royal Lodge, which they will vacate at some point next year.
