The Royal Family will make one of their most high-profile appearances of the year with their annual Christmas Day walk to church – and the Princess of Wales will be who all the fans will turn out to see
Kate at her carol service earlier this month (Image: PA)
With just days until Christmas, the Royal Family will be preparing for one of their most high-profile and much loved outings of the year. On Christmas Day, hundreds of dedicated royal fans will head to Sandringham to try and catch a glimpse of the royals as they head to church on Christmas morning by walking from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene’s.
And it was clear which member of the family the crowds were there to see last year – the Princess of Wales. Still gradually returning to duty after recovering from cancer treatment, Kate last year was laden with gifts as the crowd clamoured to chat to the princess and pass on their best wishes.
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Kate laden with flowers and gifts last Christmas(Image: Samir Hussein, Samir Hussein/WireImagevia Getty Images)
Kate with her children at Sandringham(Image: PA)
And even though she has completed many more public engagements, this year, it’s likely she will still be the star of the show on Christmas Day. Her outing will come hours after her Together At Christmas carol service, recorded earlier this month at Westminster Abbey, is shown on ITV.
And royal expert Jennie Bond told the Mirror: “Catherine has made the Christmas period uniquely hers. It is the time of year when she steps forward and takes pride of place amongst the working royals.”
The festive season is always a busy period for the Royal Family, with special engagements, glamorous events and, of course, family get-togethers all on the cards.
And for Kate and her three young children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – this year’s Christmas countdown will have been even more special. After a ‘brutal’ 2024, the Wales family are now enjoying Christmas 2025 in a brand new home, after moving to Forest Lodge from Adelaide Cottage in October.
The Princess of Wales is hugged by a wellwisher (Image: AFP via Getty Images)
Jennie says that Kate will love nothing more than making Christmas special for her children at their new home – just as her mother Carole did for Kate and her siblings.
She said: “Having been brought up in such a happy, cohesive family, Catherine loves making Christmas just as special for her children. “I’m sure her mother, with her Party Pieces business, had all sorts of wonderful knick-knacks to decorate the house.
“In these eco-friendly days, I imagine that Catherine gets the children involved in making more sustainable decorations from materials they have foraged. Of course, this year is going to be extra special because they are in their new home (not, I imagine for Christmas Day itself).”
Prince William and Princess Kate with their three children at the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service(Image: Getty Images)
And with the number of shopping days left until Christmas increasingly slipping away, Jennie also believes that William and Kate will have already collected Christmas lists from their children. Of course, George, Charlotte and Louis could be given all their hearts’ desire when it comes to gift giving – but Jennie believes Kate will want to be careful.
She explained: “Catherine and William have tried not to spoil their children unduly, which can’t be easy when you love them to bits and can basically give them anything they want! One thing they most definitely won’t be getting, however much they beg, is a smartphone. Mind you, that line is going to become increasingly difficult to hold as George enters his teenage years.
And on the subject of technology, she added: “Parents across the world will identify with their concerns. It sounds as if William and Catherine might compromise by allowing him a brick phone. And that’s very much the way that many schools and parents are heading these days.”
Jennie continued: “Moving to Forest Lodge and putting down permanent roots must be so exciting, so I’m sure that the holiday time they spend there is going to be pretty magical.”
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