King Charles arrived at Buckingham Palace today, all smiles as he prepared to host his annual pre-Christmas lunch for the extended royal family.
Dressed in a sharp suit and blue tie, the 76-year-old monarch waved cheerfully to tourists gathered outside the palace gates as he entered the iconic estate Bentley, accompanied by his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton.
The festive mood was somewhat tempered, however, by the news that the Prince and Princess of Wales will be notably absent from today’s private gathering.
It looks like there won’t be some prime seats at the table at this year’s royal lunch, but Charles looks set to make the most of it!
While King Charles was busy welcoming guests to Buckingham Palace, there were some notable absences at today’s pre-Christmas lunch.
It turns out the Prince and Princess of Wales are already in Norfolk, sticking to their usual plans to celebrate Christmas with family in Sandringham — so no surprises there!
Another royal who won’t be attending is Prince Andrew. The Duke of York has stepped down amid ongoing controversy over his alleged links to a Chinese spy.
Although both he and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson were invited to the annual royal gathering, it is believed that Fergie advised Andrew to skip the event, potentially further embarrassing the family. To avoid
It seems Charles can breathe a little easier, with his younger brother keeping a low profile this year.