Nearly all of the Royal Family travelled to Sandringham to spend Christmas with the King , Queen and other members of the Firm – but there was one surprise absence
King Charles led a near full contingent of royals to church on Christmas morning as part of Firm’s annual festive celebrations. As the family walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene’s Church, the King was joined by the likes of the Queen, Prince and Princess of Wales as well as Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, for the special service.
Even Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, along with their husbands, opted to join their royal relatives for the celebrations – despite their disgraced father, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, staying away. However, another royal who didn’t take part in the annual Sandringham gathering this year was another much-loved family member – Peter Phillips.
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The Royal Family walk to church in Sandringham on Christmas Day(Image: PA)
The son of Princess Anne did not join his royal relatives, including his sister Zara Tindall, for the big day, and his reason for skipping the festivities has been explained. According to Hello!, Peter decided to spend Christmas with his fiancée Harriet Sperling and her family.
Last year, NHS nurse Harriet was scheduled to work but the publication reports that this year, the couple decided to spend Christmas together quietly, away from the public eye.
It was back in August that Peter, the King’s oldest nephew, revealed he was engaged to be married to Harriet after a year of dating. The pair confirmed their engagement with the King and Peter’s cousin Prince William said to have been informed, with both delighted for the couple.
Peter, 48, was previously married to Autumn Kelly, with whom he has two daughters Isla and Savannah. He also dated long-term partner Lindsay Wallace before they split last year and he later found love with Harriet, an NHS nurse.
Peter Phillips and fiancee Harriet Sperling were not at Sandringham for Christmas (Image: Getty Images)
Peter and Harriet first made their debut as a couple just over a year ago when they both appeared together at the Badminton Horse Trials, where mum-of-one Harriet mingled with Peter’s mum, Anne, sister-in-law to be Zara, as well as Queen Camilla.
The couple have been spotted together at a number of social events together, such as Wimbledon as well as Cheltenham Races in January. In June, they appeared at Royal Ascot together where Harriet, who has also previously been married, made her debut in one of the carriages during the royal procession – with the move being seen as a significant sign of her moving into the royal fold.
Meanwhile, another set of family members missing from the Sandringham celebrations were Queen Camilla’s children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, and their families.
Peter and Harriet at Royal Ascot in June(Image: UK Press via Getty Images)
For the first time last year, Camilla’s children and grandchildren spent Christmas at Sandringham, although they opted out of the public walk to church on Christmas morning.
However, in a recent interview, Tom explained they would not be there this year, saying that they would alternate years in which they went to the royal residence.
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