Norfolk mother strikes gold for second time with snap of the royals going to Christmas Day service

A mother who took a famous picture of the royal ‘fab four’ two years ago has struck gold with another stunning shot.

Karen Anvil from King’s Lynn, Norfolk, captured the Sussexes and Cambridges, dubbed the ‘fab four’ on their way to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham on her phone in 2017.

And this year she was on the scene again, snapping Prince William, Kate, George and Charlotte walking with Prince Charles ahead of the Christmas Day service.

She captured the Sussexes and Cambridges on their way to church in Sandringham on her phone in 2017

She said she was delighted to see the young members of the Royal family – and even handed ‘cheeky’ Charlotte a gift.

Ms Anvil told Sky News: ‘She came over with her mum, she liked the doll. Her manners are outstanding – but she’s cheeky, she wasn’t at all scared.’

She added in a tweet: ‘She is a little monkey!!! I love her!’

Ms Anvil, who gave Charlotte a gift (right), told Sky News: ‘She came over with her mum, she liked the doll. Her manners are outstanding – but she’s cheeky, she wasn’t at all scared.’ She said Prince George’s manners were also ‘perfect’

The Prince of Wales is show in a picture taken by Ms Anvil today (left), as well as the one on the right taken of Charlotte and Kate

Karen Anvil (left) had been waiting in the crowd with daughter Rachel (right) two years ago when she took the picture of the ‘fab four’

She said Prince George’s manners were also ‘perfect’.

Addressing the atmosphere at Sandringham, marred by Prince Andrew’s absence in the wake of his car-crash Newsnight interview, she said: ‘This morning there was a different feel – there were lots of questions about Andrew and so many theories about whether he’d be here or not.

‘I’ve been here for three years, and this year it is definitely different. But it is packed here.’

After the 2017 success, Ms Anvil brought in a regular monthly income of between £600 and £6,000 in royalties.

She described the moment as like a ‘lottery win’, and one of the first purchases she made was a bed, having slept on a mattress on the floor for 18 months.

Ms Anvil had been waiting outside the church with daughter Rachel in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royals on their way in.   

Photographers from around the world jostled for position to capture a photo of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge with the then newly engaged Harry and Meghan – but it was Ms Anvil who trumped them all.