Stylish Kate strolls with George, Charlotte and Louis and husband William from Sandringham church

The Princess of Wales dazzled this morning as she led her children and husband William to Sandringham church during the King’s first Christmas walkabout.

Kate was seen guiding George, Charlotte and Louis as they joined the rest of the Royal Family arriving at the traditional Christmas Day church service on the Norfolk estate.  

King Charles III led a group containing almost all the senior royals as they walked into the church, with the monarch set to deliver his first festive speech to the nation  at 3pm today.

His majesty appeared in high spirits, and was seen smiling and laughing as members of the public passed on their well wishes to him and the rest of the family. 

Charles was joined by Camilla, the Queen Consort, at the head of the group, while the Waleses walked just behind them.

Prince William and Kate walked either side of their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as they made their way to the service.

Also present was the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, along with Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and their stepson Christopher Woolf. 

The disgraced Duke of York was also seen joining the family as they walked to the church, despite suggestions that he would not be allowed to take part by Charles.

It marks the first Christmas since Queen Elizabeth II died in September, and should prove to be a poignant  occasion for the family and supporters of the Royals.

Royal fans gathered outside the gates at the Norfolk estate to pass on their sympathies and well wishes, with some camping out overnight to get a spot.

The Waleses arrive at the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham earlier. Pictured left to right: Catherine, Princess of Wales; Princess Charlotte; Prince George; Prince William

Kate cut a stylish figure as she smiled at the crowds of royal fans who lined the path to the church

Prince Louis (centre) was seen walking beside his mother and behind his older siblings as they walked to the service

King Charles and Camilla, the Queen Consort, lead the group into the church

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and her daughter Lady Louise Windsor (left), joined other family members such as Prince Andrew (right) at the service 

Prince Louis looks at the camera as the Royal Family enters the church in Sandringham estate in Norfolk

Members of the royal family were greeted outside the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams before they climbed the steps to the church and the National Anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful.

This year’s gathering at Sandringham is the first time the royal family have spent Christmas at the private royal residence in Norfolk since 2019.

The late Queen had spent the festive period at Windsor Castle for two years in a row, in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, before her death in September this year.

Traditionally, royal Christmases at Sandringham feature a turkey lunch at the house before the family settle down to watch TV, which this year will include Charles’s first Christmas Broadcast as monarch.

His Majesty, who was seen talking with Zara and Mike Tindall after the service, has taken control of affairs in his mother’s absence the family gather for Christmas dinner at Sandringham.

Prince George was seen guiding his younger brother Louis into the church before this morning’s service

Prince Louis smiles when looking back at the crowds which gathered to line the path to the church at Sandringham

Prince George (left) and Princess Charlotte (right) were both seen arriving at the church service

Prince William smiles for the camera as he accompanies his family to the traditional Christmas Day church service

Prince Louis looks on as his mother the Princess of Wales speaks to a member of the public outside the church

Zara and Mike Tindall hold hands with their daughter Lena as they arrive at the service

Lena Tindall, daughter of Zara and Mike Tindall, holds her parent’s hands as she arrives at the Christmas Day service

Princess Beatrice cuts a stylish figure as she enters the church before this morning’s service

Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank pictured walking to the traditional Christmas Day church service 

King Charles III and Camilla, the Queen Consort, shake hands with Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams outside the church

King Charles III was spotted with Zara and Mike Tindall after the traditional Christmas Day church service at Sandringham this morning

The monarch talks with his niece, Zara Tindall, as they stroll in the grounds of Sandringham estate on Christmas morning

There was no place for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle though, with the Duke and Duchess of Sussex staying in the United States for Christmas after the release of their bombshell Netflix series.

One royal biographer has said that the series might bring the Firm closer together, with Charles wanting to make his mark by emphasising ‘tolerance and family harmony’.

‘Charles has invited the Duchess of York for the first time since her divorce from Prince Andrew,’ Sally Bedell Smith said.

‘The Duke of Edinburgh had been the main obstacle to Fergie’s inclusion, and the Queen had arranged for Fergie to stay nearby Wood Farm so she could see her daughters Beartrice and Eugenie after the celebrations at Sandringham.’

In the afternoon millions of people in the UK will tune in to watch Charles deliver his first Christmas Day message to the nation.

He is expected to pass on his sympathies to people struggling with the cost-of-living crisis and praise those charities and faith groups helping those in need.

The speech was filmed at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle earlier this month by the BBC, and is also expected to feature a poignant tribute from Charles to his late mother.

A queue of well wishers formed at Sandringham in Norfolk early in the morning ahead of the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service.

Members of the public wait for the arrival of the Royal Family outside St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham this morning

Members of the public wait with their dog to catch a glimpse of the Royal Family at Sandringham in Norfolk this morning

Royal fan John Loughrey (left) and his friend Sky London (right) sit at the front of the queue at Sandringham Estate on Christmas morning

Royal superfan John Loughrey wears a hat covered with buttons and badges of the Royal Family outside Sandringham this morning

Dogs in Christmas outfits sit as their owner and other royal fans gather outside Sandringham Estate to pass on their well wishes to the Royal Family this morning

At the front of the queue was John Loughrey, of Streatham, south London, who said he arrived at 7pm on Christmas Eve and camped out overnight with his friend Sky London, 62.

Retired assistant chef Mr Loughrey said they took a train from London to King’s Lynn in Norfolk, then a bus to Sandringham where they are staying at a local hotel, around 15 minutes’ walk from St Mary Magdalene church.

The 67-year-old, who wore a Union Jack hat, gloves and hoody, said he slept in a tinfoil blanket to ensure a place at the front of the queue.

‘We were both shivering,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t sleep properly.’

He has brought a bouquet of roses that he hopes to give to the royals.

Mr Loughrey said: ‘We wanted to come here to show our appreciation to King Charles III and his Queen Consort and of course the Prince of Wales.

‘Because of losing the Queen, it’s a sad time for the family and I’m sure they will mention the Queen in the church today.

‘It will be in King Charles’s thoughts about his mother, about her legacy, they will be thinking about it over Christmas.

‘It’s going to be a sad time and a happy time for them. That’s how it’s got to be.’

The King and Queen Consort will stay at Sandringham longer than they had in past – in previous years Camilla has left a few days after Christmas to see her family in Wiltshire.

This time however, they will stay slightly longer, but still not as long as the late Queen used to – she would always stay until after February 6, which is the anniversary of her succession.

Instead, the King and Queen will leave some time after the new year to go to Birkhall in Scotland, where Charles has always spent weeks during the festive period.