Princess Beatrice, who is expecting her second child, made a surprise appearance with the Royal family at Church on Christmas Day. The 36 year old had initially planned to spend the festive season with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and his family but decided to join the family at Sandringham after it was revealed that her father Prince Andrew would not be attending due to controversy surrounding his links to an alleged Chinese spy.
However, after receiving medical advice against long-distance travel, Beatrice decided to make the trip to Sandringham with her husband Edoardo and their three year old daughter Sienna. For the church service, Beatrice donned a camel coat and walked alongside her husband Edo and his son Wolfie, from his previous relationship with Dara Huang.
They were led by King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, as they strolled from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, passing a crowd of well-wishers. Joining them were the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
William held hands with Charlotte, while Kate, dressed in a green coat and hat, smiled at the crowds. Also part of the walking party were the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
A large number of royals are being hosted by the King and Queen at Sandringham on Christmas Day, with the Prince of Wales revealing recently 45 people will be "all in one room" at the Royal residence, reports the Mirror.
However, not among them is Beatrice's sister Princess Eugenie, who for the first time ever is spending Christmas with her husband Jack Brooksbank's family. 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.
The royal family 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. After the morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church and the greeting of well-wishers, the family are expected to tuck into a lunch of turkey and all the trimmings.
Following their festive lunch, the Royal family traditionally gathers to watch the monarch's televised address at 3pm on Christmas Day. This year, they'll be tuning in for King Charles' third Christmas speech.
