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The Royal Family Attends Christmas Day Services at Sandringham

The Royal Family Attends Christmas Day Services at Sandringham

Merry Christmas to everyone celebrating today! The Wales family and other royal family members celebrated Christmas at Sandringham today.

This is the family’s first Christmas without Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. It was just a little more than three months ago that the Prince and Princess were at Sandringham to view tributes honoring the late Queen; I’m sure she was on everyone’s minds today. 

More on today’s events from this BBC piece

It is the first year the King has hosted the Royal Family’s traditional gathering at the Norfolk estate since the death of his mother.

Hundreds of people turned up to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family on Sunday. Some had even camped out overnight at the gates, sitting in camp chairs and wrapped in blankets, while others brought bunches of flowers and gifts to hand to the royals. 

A video of the royal family via The Crown Chronicles.

More from Town and Country’s story

They have not spent the holiday at Sandringham the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but in 2022, the Windsors once again gathered at the Norfolk estate for the winter festivities.

While this is a milestone year for little Louis, this is not Prince George and Princess Charlotte’s first time joining the royal walk. In 2019, they joined their parents for the first time—Princess Charlotte was just four years old.

Below, a photo from 2019.

Nor was today Prince Louis’s first time at a Christmas Day church service. Last year all five members of the Cambridge family attended services at St. Mary Magdalene on Christmas, but they drove to and from church. 

Returning to today’s coverage, here you see the Princess of Wales and her daughter. Behind them, Prince Andrew (left), Princess Eugenie (behind Princess Charlotte), and Eugenie’s brother-in-law, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (R).

The Prince of Wales and his eldest son.

The Queen Consort, Princess of Wales, and Princess Charlotte. 

Prince George and Princess Charlotte. 

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and her daughter, Lady Louis Windsor. Also, Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son and the late Queen’s oldest grandchild, with his daughters, Isla and Savannah Phillips.

Some members of the public waiting to see the royals even brought their pets.

More from The Telegraph’s coverage

Members of the public who gathered outside the church listened to the service played over speakers.

They were given service sheets so they could sing along.

After the service, which lasted around 45 minutes, members of the Royal family took the time to speak to some of the people who came to see them.

King Charles appeared to enjoy today’s events. 

Here you see him with Dr. Paul Williams, the Rector of Sandringham.

The Princess of Wales with Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.

Prince Louis with a grin.

The Wales family and other members of the royal family.

In this photo, Princess Beatrice (green coat), her stepson Christopher Woolf, and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi. Behind them, you see Princess Eugenie and her husband, Jack Brooksbank, Prince Andrew, and other royal family members.

Here is a quick video as the royals walked over to greet members of the public. 

Several well-wishers brought gifts and flowers. More from this Telegraph story

After the 45-minute service, which started with the national anthem and O Come All Ye Faithful, Prince Louis and his siblings joined their parents on a festive walkabout to exchange a few words with those who had gathered outside. They were greeted with a round of applause from the well-wishers. 

Prince Louis appeared confident as he wished Gemma Clarke, 42, a “merry Christmas” and was given a toy Gonk – a festive gnome with a Santa hat.

“He’s always cheeky that Louis is, but I love him,” said Ms Clarke. “All three children wished me a merry Christmas. I gave them a Gonk each, and they said ‘thank you very much’, then I gave Prince William a bouquet of flowers. Catherine looked stunning. I also met the King as well, just for a brief minute.”

Another video, this one via author Katie Nicholl. 

Here you see Prince Louis being given an oversized card with Paddington Bear on the front.

Prince Louis with a wave for the crowd. 

We return to The Telegraph’s piece

Siska and Trevor Diack, aged 42 and 62, from King’s Lynn, were also among the first to greet Prince Louis. They said they were touched to see the next generation of the Royal family out and about.

Ms Diack said: “We were here to see Prince Harry when our children were small and now they’re all grown up, so it was great to see Prince Louis, who wished us a happy Christmas.”

The Princess of Wales was seen greeting a number of people from the crowd, including Jo Knights, who is also a wheelchair user. “She asked how I was and wished me a merry Christmas,” said Ms Knights. “I told her how much I’d enjoyed her carol service and she said: ‘Thank you, I’m very pleased to hear that.’”

And one more quick video, this one of Prince Louis. 

Princess Anne was not at church today; The Mirror reports she is ill.

Today was also the first Christmas broadcast for King Charles. The message was taped in the Quire of St. George’s Chapel at Windsor.

More from Stephanie Petit’s article for People

After the choir sang “God Save the King,” Charles began by acknowledging the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, who died in September at age 96.

“I am standing here in this exquisite Chapel of St. George at Windsor Castle, so close to where my beloved mother, the late Queen, is laid to rest with my dear father,” the King, 74, said. “I am reminded of the deeply touching letters, cards and messages which so many of you have sent my wife and myself and I cannot thank you enough for the love and sympathy you have shown our whole family.”

He continued, “Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones. We feel their absence at every familiar turn of the season and remember them in each cherished tradition.”

Here is a snippet of the King’s broadcast. 

The full 8-minute video of the King’s Christmas message is at the bottom of the post.  

Now for our look at what Kate wore for Christmas 2022. 

She was in a green Alexander McQueen coat we have seen previously. As I wrote when it was first worn, “the structured piece features a high collar, fitted bodice with multiple darts and flap pockets, exposed seams with topstitching detail, waistband, a concealed placket, diagonal besom pockets at the hip, and princess seams on the back of the bodice.” Below, a closer look at the details: on the left, buttons on the cuffs; in the center, the closure at the neck; on the right, a portion of the front placket.

Most recently, the coat was worn for the launch of the royal train tour in December 2020. The piece was also worn in Galway in March 2020 and first noted for a January 2020 visit to Bradford

Beneath the coat, the Princess appeared to have on the Ribbed Knit Midi Dress (£35.99, now sold out) by Mango that was first worn in November

Thank you to Royal Wikipedia on Twitter for the heads-up on the dress; it is something I would probably have missed.  

The Princess accessorized with a new hat. 

It looks like a version of this Philip Treacy design, a broad-brimmed style.  

Thank you to UFO No More for the hat ID and for identifying the earrings worn by the Princess. They are the Dina Earrings in Ocean Blue ($130) by Sezane, made of gold-plated recycled brass.   

The Princess wore brown boots that could be the Gianvito Rossi boots we have seen her wearing recently. She carried a clutch that looks like her brown Stuart Weitzman Muse style, shown below right in black.

One possibility for today’s gloves is the Evelyn style by Dent’s, a suggestion from Middleton Maven. Another possibility dates back to 2011, a style seen when then Kate Middleton and Prince William undertook a joint engagement in Anglesey.

Here you a full-size photo as worn in 2011. 

I will take a closer look at the boots and gloves tomorrow.  

Thoughts on the Wales family’s ensembles from Caroline Leaper’s piece in The Telegraph

Coordinating for Christmas is a fun fashion exercise – sometimes intentional, sometimes accidental, sometimes causing a dramatic clash, and sometimes resulting in families decked in matching novelty pyjamas.

But here the British Royal family have mastered the art, in tonal, seasonal colours that are not overpowering and – crucially – look great together in photographs.

From the Princess of Wales’s new Philip Treacy hat and forest-green Alexander McQueen coat (the latter a re-wear from an engagement at Bradford’s City Hall in January 2020), and her daughter Princess Charlotte’s burgundy Trotters coat, to the colour-matched ties worn by the Prince of Wales and Prince George, the newly minted Waleses put on their Sunday best.

For full coverage of what the Wales children wore today, visit What Kate’s Kids Wore

Also today, a quick look at what the Princess of Wales wore for her introduction to the Together at Christmas carol concert taped on the 15th.

 Here is a clip of the introduction. 

The Princess wore Self Portrait’s Black Sequin Knit Cropped Cardigan ($585) for the introduction.

The cardigan is a polyester/cotton/wool blend with intricate trim in a contrasting color, and ornate, oversized buttons. Looking closely, you can see the Princess removed the top button. 

The sweater is also available in a longer v-neck style

An additional photo related to the concert was released on social media Saturday by St. Helens and Whiston Hospital. 

In the photo, the Princess wears the Burberry tartan dress first note during the Boston trip. 
 Westminster Abbey posted a video about the concert. 

I’ll close the post with a watercolor by Prince George, posted by Kensington Palace on social media today. 
VIDEOS

The entire Christmas carol service is on YouTube. (I don’t know how long it will be up, this doesn’t appear to be an official royal family account.) 

The King’s Christmas Day message. 

The Royal Family Channel’s coverage as royals arrived at church. 

 This video covers the royals as they left church and greeted well-wishers. 

 

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Deliane

Sunday 8th of January 2023

.. I realize there is no post for today, January 9, 2023, but came back to simply wish Princess Catherine a happy birthday-- hopefully, she and those dear to her are celebrating- doing something quiet yet meaningful- and we, here on WhatKateWore, already know she'll be wearing something lovely (-:

thank you, Susan, for this website! and for your consistent, indefatigable, loyal work to make it happen.. my secret, hot cup of tea accompanied, internet break for the past X years!

Deliane

Thursday 12th of January 2023

@admin, (-: .. and belated, happy, HEALTHY New Year wishes--!

DP

Wednesday 11th of January 2023

@admin, Thank You for your response and glad to know that all is well. Hope things are well under control by now.

admin

Tuesday 10th of January 2023

Thank you for the kind sentiments, Deliane! :)

DP

Tuesday 10th of January 2023

@Deliane, Yes, I popped in here a couple of times to see if there was a post for PoW's birthday, and a little sad that there isn't one this year. With all that's happening, would have loved to have a post celebrating her life. Hope all is well, Susan, and the lack of a post isn't because you are unwell or anything. Anyway, hope the Princess has a good day, and a wonderful year again.

Claudia

Friday 6th of January 2023

Yes, please on the new trend for hats and fascinators and headbands! Lovely!! Sophie’s was exceptional as well!

QueenMab

Saturday 31st of December 2022

Kate looks especially relaxed and confident on the video announcing the carol service. The lighting was beautifully flattering and I thought her hair was glorious and shiny with beautiful waves and makeup very natural. As for the Sandringham service, I'll add my voice to the chorus of those hoping to see some modest diamond studs. They would have been perfect here and have the potential for so much use in the future.

DP

Friday 30th of December 2022

I love this look and I think her hat makes all the difference to it. Three wears in 2020 alone tells us that she clearly likes it and is comfortable in this coat. And, if as reported, the earrings are a gift from Prince William, for her to wear it for one of the most anticipated public outings say wonders to their relationship - irrespective of our opinion on them 😊 But rather than the nitty-gritties of what she wore, I think we are all here because of who she is and what she embodies. Her life and work continues to be a challenge, but for her to keep calm and carry on tells us her strength of character. And so my wish for her and her family is that 2023 would be merry and bright, and that she’ll receive the strength and support needed to carry on the good work. A big thank you to Susan also for well written posts throughout the year. May you and your family, and all the work you do, be blessed. Wishing you and the WKW family a blessed 2023.

admin

Saturday 31st of December 2022

Thank you, DP, I’m sending the same sentiments right back at you! 😊

Daphne

Friday 30th of December 2022

Wonderful photograph near the top of the column, the five Wales family in sync, with the Prince and George striding together pace for pace, Charlotte looking back at Louis, Louis looking back to crowd and Princess smiling looking down at him. So refreshing to see such a unified look at this fraught time. Question: was that attractive 1950's Chanel style black and gold sweater worn with slacks or skirt? With thanks to our wonderful editor nd best wishes for a great 2023 to all readers!

admin

Friday 30th of December 2022

We don't know what the sweater was wrong with; there is only a headshot shown in the video introduction to the carol service. Hopefully, we'll see it make another appearance. :)

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