Kate Middleton joins the King at Christmas Day church service in Sandringham

The Princess of Wales looked elegant in khaki as she joined Prince William, The King and the rest of the Royal Family at today’s Christmas Day Church service in Sandringham. 

Kate Middleton, 40, beamed as she held her youngest son, four-year-old Prince Louis’s hand while she walked along with Prince William, 40, Prince George, nine and Princess Charlotte on the way to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk Estate. 

The mother-of-three looked typically stylish in a festive coat which she has worn before, believed to be from British designer Alexander McQueen, paired with a Philip Treacy hat containing a feather and dangling earrings from French brand Sézane as the group walked to the service. 

The thrifty royal recycled the military-style coat to attend an engagement at Bradford City Hall in January 2020, shortly after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were stepping down as senior royals. 

Today the Princess paired her structured coat with bespoke knee-high black heeled boots from Gianvito Rossi.

She wore her thick brunette locks down and cascading down her shoulders, brushed away from her face and opted for minimal make-up to enhance her natural beauty. 

This is the first Christmas at Sandringham in two years after the late Queen stayed in Windsor for Christmas 2020 and Christmas 2021 due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the first time the family is spending the holidays without the late Monarch. 

The Princess of Wales beamed with happiness as she walked to the service alongside her husband, ahead of the other members of the royal family. 

She looked elegant in her festive get-up as she waved to the well-wishers who have travelled to Norfolk today. 

The mother-of-three strutted on the road, with her son Prince Louis beaming with pride by her side. 

Picture perfect family! The Prince and Princess of Wales beamed as they walked to the church with their children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for the Christmas Day service

It is the first time the youngest son of the Prince and Princess of Wales’ children has attended, with Prince Louis proudly walking alongside his older siblings and parents. 

At four, and after stealing the show during the late Queen’s Jubilee celebrations in June, he is just old enough to sit through the service.  

While they are much older than him, it is only the second time that Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven, have attended, due to the cancellations of 2020 and 2021 at the height of the covid-19 pandemic.  

Hundreds of well-wishers have been queuing since the early hours to catch a glimpse of members of the royal family, and waved excitedly as the King and Queen Consort drove to the church. 

Prince Louis could be seen wearing shorts on a mild Christmas day and holding his mother’s hand as the Prince and Princess of Wales walked behind the King and Queen Consort on their way to St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Sandringham

The bittersweet occasion saw the family put on a show of unity as they marked the first Christmas since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who died on September 8.

It is the first time King Charles III is organising the event, marking the beginning of a new era for the royals. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales are staying with the King and Queen Consort for the festive holidays, alongside the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children. 

Speaking ahead of the celebrations, Mike Tindall has admitted that the Royal Family’s first Christmas without the Queen will be ‘very different’ as he opened up about his family’s festive plans on his podcast The Good, The Bad &  The Rugby, which he co-hosts with James Haskell and Alex Payne.

Filming a Christmas special of the show for YouTube, Mike – who appeared in I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here earlier this month – was seen dressed in a Santa hat and wrapped in a strand of gold tinsel.  

When asked by host Alex Payne if Christmas for the royals would be ‘very different’, Mike replied: ‘Yeah, it probably will be. I don’t really know, I’m quite looking forward to it.

‘Obviously, there’s a lot of change, there’s lots of firsts.’ 

This year will be the first time King Charles delivers a Christmas speech to the nation – something the Queen did every year of her 70 year reign. 

He is expected to speak movingly about Queen Elizabeth in his first ever Christmas message which will be broadcast at 3pm today. 

Mother-of-three Kate, 40, held her youngest son Louis’s hand as she walked with her daughter Princess Charlotte to the church

A brotherly gesture! Prince George, nine, reached out to his youngest sibling, four-year-old Prince Louis, as the Wales family headed to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham

The broadcast was produced by BBC Studios Events rather than ITV, whose turn it was to record the King’s first festive address under a rotating producer system between the BBC, ITV and Sky News.

It is believed the royal family went with the BBC because it has ‘experience of shooting in St George’s Chapel this year’.

The royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith told The Times that The Monarch has invited the Duchess of York to spend Christmas at Sandringham with the rest of the family for the first time since her divorce from Prince Andrew. 

Meanwhile, the Duke of York will be spending Christmas at the royal estate as well, but did not appear this morning for the public walk to Church. 

Yesterday, the country watched as the family put on a show of unity at Kate’s Together at Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey. 

The event, which was recorded on December 15, was broadcast on ITV at 7:30pm last night to mark Christmas Eve. 

Ahead of the event, the Princess of Wales revealed that the heart-warming concert had been dedicated to the late Queen, ‘and to all those who are sadly no longer with us’. 

In an introduction shared ahead of the concert’s broadcast, Kate talked emotionally of the late Monarch’s affinity with the festive period ‘as a time which brings people together and reminds us all of important values’.

The 40-year-old royal held her first event last year, which was such a success that she decided to bring it back – in the likelihood that it could become an annual fixture. She said: ‘Last year’s event reminded me what I love most about Christmas, seeing people coming together, celebrating and experiencing special moments, whilst also thinking about the year that’s passed.

‘This Christmas will be our first without Her Late Majesty Queen Elizabeth. Her Majesty held Christmas close to her heart, as a time that brought people together and reminded us of the importance of faith, friendship and family, and to show empathy and compassion.’

This year, the Princess invited hundreds of ‘inspiring individuals’ to the service to recognise their contributions up and down the country. 

She described them as: ‘Those who showcase the power of connectedness and community values, allowing us to continue Her Majesty’s tradition of recognising and thanking those who have gone above and beyond to support others.’

And she added: ‘Her Majesty leaves with us an incredible legacy and one that has deeply inspired many of us. This year’s carol service is dedicated to her and to all those who are sadly no longer with us.

‘So, whilst Christmas will feel very different this year, we can still remember the memories and traditions we shared.

‘Take time to slow down and celebrate with family and friends all the wonderful things that make Christmas so special.’

In a £400 black sequin knit crop cardigan, from Self Portrait, she recorded her the message last week during a visit to the Abbey amid final preparations for the service.

Supported by the Royal Foundation, the service was held at Westminster Abbey on December 15 and was attended by scores of senior royals including Their Majesties The King and Queen Consort.

The programme was narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones, and featured tributes to Her Majesty The Queen and short films highlighting individuals who go above and beyond to support others.

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