It’s Christmas at Sandringham — and the royals kicked off the festivities in style.
The Princess of Wales joined the rest of the royal family for the traditional walk to Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church. For the occasion, she stepped out in a festive forest-green ensemble, the centrepiece of which was a long double-breasted wool coat by Alexander McQueen. She topped off the look with a green-and-blue tartan scarf, a bow-adorned green fascinator, and black suede boots. To accessorise, she added black gloves and a black leather top-handle bag.
Prince William and the three Wales children — Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince Louis, 6 — also participated in the walk. They co-ordinated in their own navy-and-green outfits, with the little princes wearing blue suits with a green-and-black tartan tie. Meanwhile, Charlotte looked sweet in a checkered coat dress with blue tights and black Mary Jane shoes.
Others in attendance at this year’s walk included King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
For decades, the British royal family has typically celebrated Christmas at Sandringham House, the royal residence at the heart of the monarch’s country estate in Norfolk. The festivities usually start on Christmas Eve; on December 24, the family puts the finishing touches on the house’s Christmas tree, opens an array of presents, and sits down for a black-tie dinner. As for Christmas Day, the royals attend morning church service before heading home for a roast turkey lunch.
The Wales family had an early start to the festivities this year with Kate’s fourth annual “Together at Christmas” carol service, which took place on 6 December and was later broadcast to viewers on Christmas Eve.
“Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year,” Kate said in a recorded introduction for the service. “It is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it’s also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all. It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about.”
