Queen Camilla.Photo: News Licensing / MEGA
The royal family’s Christmas lunch is back!
After beingcanceledthe previous two years amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the royals gathered on Tuesday for an annual pre-Christmas event. Although the lunch was normally held at Buckingham Palace in London, members of the family were spotted driving into Windsor Castle for the event, which is a private gathering.
King Charles IIIandQueen Camillaarrived separately for the event, making their first time hosting the event since Charles became monarch followingQueen Elizabeth’s death in September.
Other family members seen driving onto the castle grounds included Charles' siblings Princess Anne (with her husband, Sir Tim Laurence) and Prince Edward (with his wife, Sophie, Countess of Wessex, and their daughter, Lady Louise). Princess Anne’s daughter, Zara, arrived with her husband, Mike Tindall, who took the wheel as the couple’s children were spotted in the backseat of the vehicle.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex.News Licensing / MEGA
Prince and Princess Michael of Kent were in attendance, along with the Duke of Kent.
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Not seen driving were Charles' sonPrince Williamand daughter-in-lawKate Middletonalong with their three children,Prince George,Princess CharlotteandPrince Louis. It’s possibly because it was a short commute to Windsor Castle for the Prince and Princess of Wales — earlier this year, they moved to Adelaide Cottage on the castle grounds.
Prince Williamand Princess Kate, both 40, areregulars at the holiday event, along with their children.
However, it’s also possible that the Prince and Princess of Wales are already in Norfolk for the Christmas season.
Sir Tim Laurence and Princess Anne.News Licensing / MEGA
After two years of celebrating the holidays largely separated, Christmas for the British royal family will return to normality this year — complete withgathering at Sandringham, exchanging gag gifts on Christmas Eve and walking to church on Christmas morning. However, they will be missing their matriarch,Queen Elizabeth.
“It will be hard, as the Queen was all they knew, like most of Britain,” a former palace staffer tells PEOPLE in this week’s issue.
The staffer adds, “The first year is most difficult, as it is always the first of everything that you notice.”
Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince George and Kate Middleton.Getty
“This carol service is dedicated to Her MajestyQueen ElizabethII, and to all those who are sadly no longer with us. Her Late Majesty’s strongly held values of duty, compassion and faith have guided the creation of this service,” a message inside the program forRoyal Carols: Together at Christmassaid.
During the service,Prince Williamalso read part of his grandmother’sChristmas broadcastfrom 2012.
Getty
“Charles has always been very, very fond of Sandringham,” royal biographer Ingrid Seward tells PEOPLE. “Christmas within any family is always about tradition. He will keep it the same as it ever was.”
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And Queen Camilla will be “a real presence,” says Seward, in hosting the festivities, despite leaving to spend time with her own children and grandchildren in years past.
“She can’t have him hosting his first Christmas on his own,” Seward adds.
source: people.com
