King and Queen attend church in Sandringham after "brutal" year
Royal Family attends private Christmas service in Norfolk
The King attended the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service, after a “brutal” year in which he and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, were both diagnosed with cancer.
Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, past a crowd of well-wishers.
They were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
William walked hand in hand with Charlotte, and Kate who wore a green coat and hat, smiled at the crowds.
Also in the walking party was the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Absent was the Duke of York, who has been dogged by links to an alleged Chinese spy.
Andrew, 64, had joined the family at church for the last two years in succession, but was said to be preparing to spend Christmas Day with his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York this year.
They were expected to spend Christmas at Royal Lodge, the home they share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.
Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.
They then headed inside and the national anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful.
Earlier this year, William described the past year, in which his wife and father were treated for cancer, as “brutal”.
He said that 2024 has “probably been the hardest year in my life” and a “dreadful” experience.
Well-wishers wait hours to see Royal Family at Sandringham
People travelled from across the country, some even from abroad, to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family as they arrived at church this morning.
Retired chef John Loughrey, 69, from Wandsworth, south London, said he and Sky London travelled by train to King’s Lynn then took a bus, arriving at Sandringham in Norfolk at 7.30pm on December 24th.
“We had sleeping bags with us and a heat pad,” Mr Loughrey said.
“It was a bit damp last night.
“We came here for Catherine. She’s been an inspiration the last year what she’s been through.
“We want to support her and her family.”
Mr London, 64, from Paddington, central London, said: “If you’re a royalist and you love the royals you do anything.”
They both brought flowers that they hoped to give to the Princess of Wales.