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William and Kate join Royals for pre-Christmas lunch at the Palace

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge joined the Royal Family on Wednesday afternoon for The Queen’s annual pre-Christmas lunch.

New parents William and Kate smiled to the crowds as they arrived at Buckingham Palace, for the annual gathering which is held every year before the 87-year-old monarch leaves London for her festive break at Sandringham.

It is the first time the proud parents would have had the chance to introduce Prince George, who was born in July, to the extended family.

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Prince William and Kate joined the Royal Family on Wednesday afternoon for the Queen’s annual pre-Christmas Lunch. [photo taken in 2011]

The annual lunch is one of two times a year Her Majesty gathers the whole family, with the second being Trooping The Colour, which takes place in June each year to mark The Queen’s Official Birthday.

Joining the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were Prince Charles and The Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Anne and husband Sir Timothy Lawrence, Prince Edward and his wife The Countess of Wessex.

Also joining the family party were the Duke of York, Princess Beatrice, The Duchess of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Margaret’s children Viscount Linley and Lady Sarah Chatto who arrived with their families.

Noticeably absent from the Christmas lunch was Prince Harry, who will return from his South Pole trek later this week and Princess Eugenie who is still in New York working.

Next week, senior members of the Royal Family including Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince Edward and Sophie, Princess Anne and the Duke of York will join The Queen at Sandringham, Norfolk for Christmas Day.

It is thought the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will also spend Christmas with the Royals this year after spending it with Kate’s family in Berkshire last year.

This Christmas will be Prince George’s first Christmas and earlier this week the Duchess was spotting buying some festive baby jumpers, believed to be for the five-month-old Prince.

photo credit: pmwebphotos via photopin cc