It just wouldn’t be Christmas without a royal sighting, and this year is no different. This morning the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended a church service in Sandringham, along with their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte, father Prince Charles and, of course, the Queen herself. Wearing a faux fur collar and green hat, Kate smiled as she held Princess Charlotte's hand. She and William left their youngest - Prince Louis - at home.
It seems a particularly important Christmas for the family, after the recent hospitalisation of Prince Philip. He was released in time for Christmas and arrived at Sandringham yesterday.
Earlier today, William and Kate released an adorable Instagram post: an unseen portrait of the children featuring William and taken by Kate.
Back in 2018, civilian Karen Anvil caused a sensation by snapping the ‘Fab Four’ – Kate, William, Harry and Meghan – arriving at the church in what became one of the most recognisable portraits of the two couples. But there is no repeat this year. Harry and Meghan are spending Christmas in Canada and out of the limelight with their young son, Archie, as they continue a break from royal duties.
Christmas at Sandringham involves the giving of joke presents, walks and several meals. It can be a daunting day for any newcomers, according to royal commentator Ingrid Seward.
‘It's quite scary at the beginning’, she tells Grazia. ‘Sarah Ferguson does a great description of it: you walk into this sort of double sitting room and everybody's just standing there. You don't know who to curtsy to, who to address by what title and you know, and then you have to be careful not to fall over any dogs. Obviously, you know that you would greet the Queen first, but then when you go into lunch there is an order of precedence, and you don't know what that is. It's very scary.'
Despite the family setting, things aren’t exactly casual, and some members will be deemed too young to participate in everything. 'Christmas lunch is very formal’, Ingrid says. ‘In the old days, children always ate in the nursery. Little Louis won't be sitting down for Christmas, but once they can hold a knife and fork they can sit for lunch, so Charlotte and George will be there.'
Kate will have had to have packed plenty of outfits. ‘You've got the early morning church clothes,’ says Ingrid, ‘then the proper church clothes for later, when you have to really dress up, then changing for lunch, then clothes for walking, then clothes for tea. Then there's cold supper and a movie. It is absolutely exhausting.'
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