Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend church with their parents

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis have attended church with their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in Sandringham as they spend Christmas apart from their great-grandmother the Queen.

The Cambridge youngsters appeared alongside Prince William and Kate, both 39, as the family left the St Mary Magdalene Church near their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall.

William could be spotted driving his family to the service in pictures taken this morning, while his wife remained by his side – dressed in a stylish hat and a purple check coat – and his children, George, eight, Charlotte, six, and Louis, three, sat in the back of the car. 

The Cambridges will not be joining the Queen at Windsor for Christmas this year, instead spending the festive season in Norfolk, where they will host members of the Middleton family. 

Last night the Duchess of Cambridge gave millions of Britons a Christmas treat on TV as she played the piano to accompany singer Tom Walker with a poignant song performed by candlelight during her Westminster Abbey carol concert. 

The Cambridge youngsters appeared alongside Prince William and Kate, both 39, as the family left the St Mary Magdalene Church near their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall. Pictured, Prince George

William (pictured left) could be spotted driving his family to the service in pictures taken this morning, while his wife remained by his side – dressed in a stylish hat and a purple check coat – and his children, George, eight, Charlotte, six, and Louis, three, sat in the back of the car

Earlier today, William and Kate shared a Christmas message to pay tribute to ‘those who are alone or having to isolate away from loved ones’. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge jointly penned a tweet, which they signed off ‘W&C’ to indicate they had written it themselves, and posted it on Christmas morning.

They said they recognised today is ‘different to what so many of us had planned’ following a spike in Covid cases in recent weeks, forcing people to isolate away from their families. 

It read: ‘This Christmas will be different to what so many of us had planned. From those who are alone or having to isolate away from loved ones, to the incredible people supporting our NHS and caring for those most in need – we are thinking of you. W & C.’  

It is believed the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend all the holiday season at Anmer Hall, in their home on the Queen’s Sandringham estate. It is not known which members of Kate’s family will be staying with them. 

The Cambridges have not celebrated Christmas with the Middletons since 2016, when William, Kate, George and Charlotte visited a church in Bucklebury. 

The Cambridges (pictured) will not be joining the Queen at Windsor for Christmas this year, instead spending the festive season in Norfolk, where they will host members of the Middleton family 

Carole and Michael Middleton leaving the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk

And although they will not be with the Queen on Christmas Day, William and Kate will see her over the Christmas period, reports the Mirror.  

It comes as the Queen is facing her first Christmas without her late husband Prince Philip in more than 73 years, following his death in April of this year. 

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are also remaining stateside for the holidays, meaning the Queen will not yet meet her new granddaughter Lilibet. 

However she will be joined on Christmas Day by Prince Charles and Camilla at Windsor Castle, in a boost for the monarch after Princess Anne had to drop out because her husband Sir Timothy Laurence contracted Covid, meaning neither he nor Anne could join the Queen.

They are likely to be joined by Prince Andrew and his former wife, Sarah, Duchess of York, plus their two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie.

Meanwhile, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester have arrived for the Christmas Matins service in Windsor Castle

Sophie and Edward were accompanied by their daughter Lady Louise and son James, Viscount Severn. The royals were greeted at the entrance by the Dean of Windsor before moving inside for the morning service

The Earl and Countess of Wessex are also expected to be with the Queen for Christmas alongside their children, James, Viscount Severn, and Lady Louise

The Earl and Countess of Wessex are also expected to be there, with their children, James, Viscount Severn, and Lady Louise.

Clarence House confirmed that the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall would join the 95-year-old monarch at Windsor today.

The plans of Charles and Camilla had been unclear until earlier this week. They spent last Christmas at Highgrove, their country estate in Gloucestershire. 

But a Clarence House spokesman confirmed: ‘The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall will be with Her Majesty The Queen on Christmas Day.’ 

The Queen had already decided to cancel her pre-Christmas dinner at Windsor for her extended family this week as a result of rising coronavirus cases.

It is understood the Queen’s absence from the service is a personal choice and follows a precautionary approach seen over the last six months

The Duchess of Cornwall donned a blue chequered coat and a white umbrella as she arrive for the Christmas service

Camilla took out a colourful mask before entering the chapel for the Christmas Day service on Saturday

And on Monday it was revealed that she had also decided to scrap plans to travel to her beloved Sandringham country estate in Norfolk for Christmas.

Sources indicated that the Queen felt it was ‘too difficult’ for her family and staff to move between residences safely bearing in mind pleas from the Government for the public to be cautious. 

One said: ‘Her Majesty always leads by example.’ Instead she plans to spend her Christmas quietly at Windsor, her first without husband Philip.

Several family members are expected to be with the Queen, Charles and Camilla – including Prince Andrew and his family and the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children.

But she had also hoped her daughter Anne, who she has a close relationship with, would be able to join her. Instead Anne will be isolating with her husband at Gatcombe Park, their Gloucestershire estate. 

A senior royal source confirmed: ‘Admiral Sir Tim has tested positive for Covid and is following all the appropriate rules. Christmas Day at Windsor will not be possible.’

Sir Tim is understood to have tested positive early this week, meaning that under the new seven-day rule he and the princess could travel to see the Queen after the weekend.

She usually hosts around 20 to 30 family members at her Norfolk home, with crowds of wellwishers turning out to watch the royals walk to the Christmas Day service at the church on the estate. Sources told the Mail that the Queen, who normally stays in Norfolk until early February, could yet travel there in January. 

Kate leaves viewers ‘speechless’ with ‘touching’ piano performance at Westminster Abbey service – and fans say she is ‘just like Diana’ after late royal surprised guests in 1988 with her musical talents 

Kate Middleton has left viewers ‘speechless’ with her ‘touching and mesmerising’ piano performance at her Westminster Abbey carol concert after it aired on TV last night.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, stunned onlookers as she played the piano to accompany singer Tom Walker with a poignant song performed by candlelight at the service in London, which was a royal family affair.

Kate, who has tickled the ivories since she was a child, recorded the song with Walker in the Chapter House of the Abbey, one day before a community carol service on December 8 which was shown on ITV yesterday evening. 

They played his Christmas single ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ together – and despite the Duchess reportedly feeling ‘quite nervous’, fans rushed to Twitter to praise her performance.

Others noted how Kate seemingly channelled her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, who surprised onlookers in 1988 in Australia with her own piano performance. 

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Kate Middleton (pictured) has left viewers ‘speechless’ with her ‘touching and mesmerising’ piano performance at her Westminster Abbey carol concert after it aired on TV last night

Some royal fans noted how Kate seemingly channelled her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, who surprised onlookers in 1988 in Australia with her own piano performance (pictured)

Despite Kate reportedly feeling ‘quite nervous’, fans rushed to Twitter to praise her performance  (above)

During Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s visit to Melbourne on their 1988 royal tour of Australia, they visited Melbourne College of Arts. 

When there, the princess delighted well-wishers by playing part of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, apparently without any sheet music. 

It was Diana’s second royal tour of Australia, taking place five months after her first visit, which was recently fictionalised on Netflix’s The Crown.  

The news footage of the moment shows Prince Charles and Princess Diana walking into a rehearsal room where musicians are playing in a semi-circle. 

Charles is cajoled into playing the cello by Professor Henri Touzeau, his former music tutor who later worked in Australia. 

The prince obligingly plays a few notes before putting down the bow. The professor then turns his attention to the princess, who is stylishly dressed in a white and navy suit and matching wide-brimmed hat.

 

 Reaction: Some fans pointed out the similarities between Kate and Diana’s piano performance

During Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s visit to Melbourne on their 1988 royal tour of Australia, they visited Melbourne College of Arts. When there, the princess delighted well-wishers by playing part of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, apparently without any sheet music (pictured)

After some initial hesitation, Princess Diana takes a seat at the piano and begins to play the concerto, which the newsreader describes as ‘complicated’.

Princess Diana was an accomplished musician and started playing piano as a young girl.

She took after her maternal grandmother, Ruth Boche, Baroness Fermoy, who was a talented pianist and studied with Alfred Cortot at the Paris Conservatoire in the 1920s.

One fan noted of Kate and Diana’s performances: ‘She is just like Princess Diana, she played the piano too, and quite well in fact.’

Another said: ‘Princess Diana played the piano good too! How lovely the Duchess shares same gift. It’s been wonderful seeing all her talents, from photography to beekeeping and now the piano.’

Kate plays the grand piano while Tom Walker sings his emotional Christmas single For Those Who Can’t Be Here, which aired on ITV on Christmas Eve

Reaction: Meanwhile, viewers were full of praise for the Duchess of Cambridge following her performance, with one saying: ”Such a beautiful and moving performance.’

Meanwhile, viewers were full of praise for the Duchess of Cambridge following her performance, with one saying: ”Such a beautiful and moving performance.’

Another said: ‘This is absolutely gorgeous and Kate on the piano for Tom Walker?? Absolute magic.’

A third added: ‘Oh my… Catherine is playing the piano. Even the cat froze, it just wasn’t sure if it was safe to continue noisily attacking the tree! 

A fourth said: ‘This song, and having Duchess Kate play the piano, was so touching for anyone who lost someone recently or not. The Holidays always make you remember them. Thank you!’