Royal family at Sandringham: King, Queen, William and Kate attend Christmas Day service

The King and Queen attended a Christmas Day church service at Sandringham, accompanied by the Prince and Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family.

Excited crowds watched as the King and his family made their way into St Mary Magdalene Church, Norfolk. A woman who previously had ovarian cancer told the BBC she could wish the King and Catherine well after her cancer diagnosis.

It was announced last week that Prince Andrew would not attend the annual gathering after an alleged Chinese spy was found to have links to the royal.

The service took place hours before the King’s Christmas message was broadcast – it will be delivered from a former hospital chapel.

The monarch, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales were joined by the prince and princess’ three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The walking party also included the Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children Lady Louise Windsor and the Earl of Wessex.

Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys-Williams welcomed the royal family at the foot of the church steps. Inside, the national anthem, O Come, All Ye Faithful, was sung before the first hymn.

The Christmas morning church service is a major event in the royal calendar, bringing the royal family together for a public appearance, with crowds and photographers capturing the moment.

Afterwards, the royals spend Christmas at their Sandringham estate, which has been a traditional seasonal meeting place for the family since 1988.

Shelley, from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, said she joined the crowd for the first time this year to support the King and Catherine.

Earlier this year, the couple announced their cancer diagnoses within weeks of each other. King in February And Princess next month.

“I was having Christmas on my own and I wanted to turn the negative into a positive and I really, really wanted to be here for Catherine and Charles as they were on their journey,” Shelley told the BBC. Told the B.C.

“That [Catherine]has had a very difficult year, and I just want to give my support.”

Among the crowd was Diana of Oldham, who shook hands with the monarch, Prince William and Catherine and their youngest son, Prince Louis.

She told the BBC that it was very important for her, as an ovarian cancer survivor, to speak to the royal family.

Diane said she was able to wish the King and Catherine good health for the New Year, and that she had written to Catherine on various occasions about the cancer and received “beautiful replies”.

“People don’t know how it is. [cancer] It affects you as a family, so I wanted to see the whole family here and see them celebrating Christmas.

While Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, did not attend the service, their daughter Princess Beatrice – along with her husband, property tycoon Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi, and her son from a previous marriage, Christopher Wolff – did. were

Prince Andrew’s absence confirmed After Yang Tengbo, also known as Chris Yang, was named as an alleged Chinese spy who was banned from entering the UK.

The man is said to have been part of an operation to get close to figures of influence, judges at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission Court have ruled. “Extraordinary Limits of Confidence” with Prince.

Prince Andrew’s office said nothing sensitive was ever discussed with Mr Yang.

The prince has rarely been seen in public since apologizing for his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, and no longer takes part in frontline royal duties.

Later on Christmas Day, Traditional King’s Speech Broadcasted on television and radio as usual.

It was Recorded earlier this month at Fitzrovia Chapel, central London.and marks the first time in more than a decade that a Christmas message has been recorded from a location other than a royal palace or estate.

Fitzroy was once the chapel of Middlesex Hospital.

Location suggests that health care and supportive community connections may be annual speech topics.

Kensington Palace released a video in September showing Catherine making the announcement. He completed chemotherapy treatment.and promoted the message that “out of darkness can come light”.

She recently marked her biggest return to royal duties after completing chemotherapy Hosting a carol service at Westminster Abbey. The event was dedicated to individuals who have shown love, kindness and compassion to their communities.

Meanwhile, the king’s regular treatment sessions continue, but as a sign of a positive response he plans a busy schedule of engagements and overseas tours in 2025.