The Royal Family gathered in large numbers at Sandringham on Christmas morning as King Charles III led the traditional walk to St Mary Magdalene Church, greeted by crowds of well-wishers lining the estate.
At the head of the procession were the King and Queen Camilla, continuing a long-standing royal tradition that has become one of the most familiar images of the festive season. They were joined by senior members of the Royal Family, with the line-up offering a snapshot of the modern monarchy – as much defined by who attended as by who did not.
Among those present were the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by their three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and seven-year-old Prince Louis. The family drew particular attention, with the children smiling and waving as they walked to church before taking part in a walkabout afterwards.
Also attending were the Princess Royal and her husband, Sir Tim Laurence, along with the Duke of Edinburgh and his son, James, Earl of Wessex. The Duchess of Edinburgh arrived with her daughter, Lady Louise Mountbatten-Windsor, now 22.
Zara and Mike Tindall were also in attendance alongside their two daughters.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were front and centre for the church walk, alongside their respective partners – Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank.
One notable absence, however, was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The former Duke of York did not attend the public church walk and has not appeared at the Sandringham Christmas service in recent years. The King’s brother has remained withdrawn from public royal events amid his continued absence from official duties.
As in previous years, several more distant relatives and non-working royals were also not seen at the service, reflecting the increasingly streamlined public presence of the monarchy.
Following the church service, the family returned to Sandringham House for private Christmas celebrations hosted by the King, with as many as 45 relatives traditionally gathering for lunch.
The Sandringham walk remains one of the few moments each year when the public is able to see multiple generations of the Royal Family together — offering a revealing glimpse of both continuity and change at the heart of the monarchy.
