King Charles has made his first public appearance since Prince Andrew’s withdrawal from the Royal Family Christmas celebrations, attending an Advent service at a Catholic church in Mayfair.
The 76-year-old monarch visited The Church of the Immaculate Conception on Tuesday afternoon, arriving in seasonal spirits at the London venue.
The King attended the service, which celebrated the strength and courage of faith communities at Christmas, without Queen Camilla.
The appearance comes just one day after it emerged that Prince Andrew had voluntarily decided to skip the annual royal celebrations at Sandringham amid the ongoing Chinese spy controversy.
King Charles pictured for the first time since Prince Andrew pulled out spending Christmas with royals
Getty / PA
At the historic Farm Street Church, as it is commonly known, the King was greeted by Father Dominic Robinson, the Parish Priest and Ecclesiastical Assistant at Aid to the Church in Need.
His Majesty took a moment to shake hands with a veteran serviceman, who was wearing gloves, as he arrived at the church.
Following the service, the King met with representatives from Aid to the Church in Need and other charitable initiatives supported by the church.
The discussions focused on community outreach and supporting the homeless.
King Charles attended a Catholic Advent service in London
Reuters
The church, which dates back to 1849, provided a fitting backdrop for the seasonal service in one of London’s most prestigious postcodes.
Queen Camilla was notably absent from the service as she continues to recover from a chest infection.
The Queen has pared down her public events in the run-up to Christmas, following medical advice to prioritise rest.
Her illness developed after a long-haul trip to Australia and Samoa, leading her to miss several engagements including the Royal Variety Performance.
King Charles appeared in good spirits as he left the church
Reuters
Palace sources have stressed there is no cause for alarm, explaining that the chest infection has simply left the Queen “with significantly diminished reserves of energy.”
A Buckingham Palace spokesman had previously stated: “Following a recent chest infection, The Queen continues to experience some lingering post-viral symptoms, as a result of which doctors have advised that, after a busy week of engagements, Her Majesty should prioritise sufficient rest.”
Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, will remain at Royal Lodge instead of joining the royal festivities in Norfolk on Christmas Day.
The Duke of York’s decision comes amid controversy surrounding his links to alleged Chinese spy Yang Tengbo.
King Charles greeting church goers upon his visit
Reuters
It is understood King Charles did not ban his brother from attending, but hoped he would “do the decent thing” and stay away.
Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have also opted to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws this year.
This marks a significant change from last year when Sarah joined the royal Christmas celebrations for the first time in over three decades.
Yang Tengbo, who became a “close” confidant of the Duke of York, has insisted he has “done nothing wrong or unlawful” and denied claims of espionage.