Prince William and Princess Kate are being joined by their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at Sandringham this morning as the family attends the traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene.
The appearance of the Waleses is the most high-profile public glimpse of the children over the festive period and comes during a month in which the family’s focus has been on Christmas-themed events centred on community and service.
Kate, 43, wore her long, tailored tartan coat by Blazé Milano and a hat by Juliette Botterill.
Earlier this month, Princess Kate hosted her fifth Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.
This is a flagship seasonal moment, built around a message of love, compassion and connection, which was broadcast on Christmas Eve.
The service has become one of the most established fixtures in the royal diary, bringing together invited guests from community groups and charities alongside members of the Royal Family.
The Wales children were also part of that Westminster Abbey event, underlining how the family tends to keep their most visible seasonal moments contained to a small number of set pieces.
Princess Charlotte, 10, was filmed playing the piano alongside her mother, the Princess of Wales, sparking a fan frenzy online.
Princess Kate with her children at Sandringham
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Princess Kate and Princess Charlotte pictured walking side by side
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The walk to St Mary Magdalene sits at the centre of the Royal Family’s Norfolk celebrations.
While it is rooted in a private family Christmas, it remains a public-facing engagement by design, with crowds gathering near the estate to see the royals as they arrive and depart.
For Prince William and Princess Kate, Christmas at Sandringham also offers a clear contrast between high-profile London set pieces and the lower-key, traditional rhythm of Norfolk.
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Princess Charlotte seen with the rest of the Royal Family
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The couple have long balanced the public-facing role of the Prince and Princess of Wales with a controlled approach to their children’s appearances.
The Sandringham church walk remains one of the rare moments each year when George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven, are seen together in an official royal setting outside major national events.
During the festive season, Kate and William are normally housed at Anmer Hall, their private home on the Sandringham estate, which was a wedding gift from the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2011.
King Charles and Queen Camilla at Sandringham
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The Waleses will return to Sandringham House following the service as the Royal Family continue with their Christmas Day programme.
This traditionally includes lunch at the estate and the King’s Christmas broadcast later in the afternoon.
The Royal Family typically opens their presents on Christmas Eve in a nod to their German roots.