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.

The Royals arriving at church this morning to attend the traditional Christmas day service.

The King and Queen led the group, which included Prince Louis for his first Christmas service. 🎄Read more 🎄https://t.co/gYqbVIFWsy pic.twitter.com/RarRtLzq9f

— The Crown Chronicles (@crownchronicles) December 25, 2022

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. 

After leaving church the family greeted the waiting crowds who were thrilled pic.twitter.com/ylBmicV9cK

— Alice Wright (@alicelfwright) December 25, 2022

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. 

Merry Christmas! Here are the royals leaving church #sandringham #royalfamily #MerryChristmas pic.twitter.com/VxsvbtqU3o

— Katie Nicholl (@katienicholl) December 25, 2022

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. 

Prince Louis getting left behind collecting presents at Sandringham this morning pic.twitter.com/C0YwLmFjK6

— John Bartlett (@Johny5issoalive) December 25, 2022

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. 

“Christmas is a particularly poignant time for all of us who have lost loved ones.”

📺 In The King’s Christmas Broadcast, His Majesty reflects on Queen Elizabeth II’s faith in people and thanks those who have given their time to help others. pic.twitter.com/8RFCq6Wk0G

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) December 25, 2022

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. 

We have a surprise for you…

Tune in to ITV1 tonight at 7pm, when Her Royal Highness the Princess of Wales will be recognising and thanking those who have gone above and beyond to support others.

We can’t wait for you to see it! 🥰 pic.twitter.com/QXpf895V9n

— StHelens&WhistonHosp (@sthknhs) December 24, 2022

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

Watch highlights from the #RoyalCarols #TogetherAtChristmas carol service from Westminster Abbey. pic.twitter.com/ufJOaMmamy

— Westminster Abbey (@wabbey) December 24, 2022

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.