Sandringham, Norfolk, 26 December (H.S.): King Charles III and Queen Camilla led the Royal Family at the traditional Christmas Day morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate, before greeting large crowds who had gathered in icy conditions to see the monarchy uphold one of its most closely watched seasonal traditions.

The service, a fixture of the royal calendar since the late 1980s, drew well‑wishers from across the United Kingdom, mainland Europe and the United States, many of whom began queuing from 21:00 GMT on Christmas Eve to secure a vantage point along the church approach.

Shortly before 11:00, the King and Queen walked to the church accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, followed by other senior royals including the Princess Royal, Zara Tindall and her family, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

The congregation was welcomed at the church door by Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams, who officiated the service, while loudspeakers relayed the liturgy and carols to the waiting crowds outside on the frosty lawn.

After the hour‑long service, members of the Royal Family spent an extended period meeting the public, accepting cards, bouquets and small gifts and posing for photographs. The three Wales children took on a more prominent role than in previous years, moving independently along the lines of well‑wishers to shake hands, exchange festive greetings and collect Christmas cards, toys and chocolate selection boxes offered by excited children and adults alike.

Princess Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was seen engaging in lengthy conversations, cradling multiple bouquets as she moved slowly along the barrier to ensure that as many people as possible had an opportunity to speak with her.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie also attended with their husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, joining the wider family group in the walk to and from the church, though their father, Andrew Mountbatten‑Windsor, formerly Prince Andrew, was notably absent from the Sandringham celebrations.

Andrew was instead photographed driving near Windsor Castle earlier in the day, as he continues to live at Royal Lodge ahead of his expected move in the new year to a smaller, privately funded property on the Sandringham estate, following the King’s decision in October to strip him of his remaining royal styles, titles and honours.

His public standing has been further damaged by renewed scrutiny of his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, including the recent release of U.S. government “Epstein files” containing photographs in which Andrew appears; authorities have stressed that inclusion in the documents is not evidence of criminal conduct, and Andrew has consistently denied any wrongdoing.

The Sandringham appearance came just hours before the King’s pre‑recorded Christmas broadcast, filmed this year in Westminster Abbey, where he reflected on life as a shared “pilgrimage” and appealed for unity, courage and reconciliation in what he described as an increasingly divided and fast‑moving world.

Invoking the spirit of communities that endured the hardships of the Second World War, and referencing poet T. S. Eliot’s idea of a “still point of the turning world”, he urged people to “get to know our neighbours”, to bridge social and cultural divides and to draw strength from the diversity of modern society while upholding values of compassion, justice and respect.

The broadcast also touched on the King’s personal health, following his recent “good news” update that he is responding well to cancer treatment, and he expressed gratitude for the support and messages he has received from the public over recent months.

Surrounded by Christmas trees and decorations originally installed for the Princess of Wales’s “Together at Christmas” carol service, the monarch presented the Abbey as a symbol of continuity and shared heritage, linking the wartime generation’s sacrifices with contemporary calls for resilience and communal responsibility.

In a lighter cultural moment, the Christmas festivities were framed by the broadcast on Christmas Eve of a piano duet from Windsor Castle, in which Catherine and Princess Charlotte performed a piece by Scottish composer Erland Cooper for the Princess’s carol concert.

The short performance, teased in advance by Kensington Palace with a brief clip of the Princess of Wales playing alongside an unidentified partner, showcased the younger generation’s growing public profile and added a personal, domestic note to the royal family’s seasonal programme.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar