PRINCESS CHARMING
Adorable Charlotte hugs crowds at first Sandringham service after walking hand-in-hand with parents William and Kate
ADORABLE Princess Charlotte hugged well-wishers at her first Sandringham service after walking hand-in-hand to the church with her proud parents.
Four-year-old Charlotte and older brother George, six, joined the Queen at the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service for the first time.
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
One-year-old Prince Louis stayed at the house.
After the service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Princess Charlotte was spotted mingling with members of the public and spreading some festive joy while clutching an inflatable pink flamingo.
Charlotte, who was accompanied by mum Kate, was also handed a gift box by a well-wisher.
Gemma Clark, 39, who had travelled from Long Sutton in Lincolnshire with her family, gave Charlotte the inflatable flamingo and said she seemed pleased with the gift.
"She said 'Thank you'," said Ms Clark, who was in a wheelchair.
The flamingo was called Felicity, Ms Clark said, adding: "But Charlotte may call it whatever she likes now."
She said: "It was a birthday present. My sister bought me it for my birthday and I truthfully didn't like it but we have adventures with her."
She said George and Charlotte were "brilliant".
"It made my day," she added. "I've never seen the royal family, ever.
"This is my first time at Sandringham and I would love to do it again."
Another well-wisher presented Charlotte with a home-made doll.
36
36
36
36
36
It comes after Prince William and Kate released a new photograph showing the duke kissing his youngest son, Louis, alongside George and Charlotte.
The picture was posted by Kensington Palace on Twitter with the message: "Merry Christmas to all our followers!"
The 93-year-old Queen, wearing a red coat and hat, attended the service with the Duchess of Cornwall. The Duke of Edinburgh, 98, who was discharged from hospital on Christmas Eve, was at Sandringham but did not attend church.
He had spent four nights at the King Edward VII Hospital in London to receive treatment for a "pre-existing condition".
Philip, who retired from public duties in 2017, did not attend last year's church service either despite being in good health at the time.
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
Meanwhile scandal-hit Prince Andrew, who has had a tumultuous end to the year after his disastrous appearance on the BBC's Newsnight programme, walked side by side with Charles to a service at 9am but did not attend the main 11am service.
It was Andrew's first public appearance since his car crash Newsnight interview where he failed to express any sympathy for the victims of convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew said he did not regret having been a friend of Epstein, who killed himself in jail aged 66 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking.
The Duke was also ridiculed over his repeated denials of any sexual relationship with then 17-year-old Virginia Roberts.
He claimed he had taken his daughter Princess Beatrice to a Pizza Express in Woking on the night he is accused of sleeping with Roberts, a "sex slave" of Epstein.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were also absent this year, instead opting to spend seven-month-old Archie's first Christmas with the Duchess's mother, Doria Ragland, in Canada.
Others attending the main morning service included Princess Beatrice and her fiance, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
In her Christmas Day TV message the Queen will refer to her family’s "bumpy" 2019 and the nation's Brexit divisions.
The year has been labelled her second "annus horribilis" - the Latin phrase she used to describe 1992 after the marriages of three of her children collapsed.
This time, son Prince Andrew, 59, has been mired in the scandal of his friendship with US paedo Epstein and claims he slept with a teen sex slave.
Husband Prince Philip, who was admitted to hospital after the speech was recorded, was involved in a car accident at the start of the year.
The duke faced criticism for taking too long to contact the occupants of the other car and for being seen driving without his seat-belt in the days that followed.
And the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have spoken about their struggles living in the public eye.
most read in news
Brexit has divided the country and Parliament, leading to huge uncertainty.
Her Majesty's comment is thought to be her first public reference to the personal events her family has experienced this year.
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
36
Message is clear
CHRISTMAS is all about family — and the Queen knows it.
But she also knows the PR value behind the nation’s interest in a royal Christmas.
That is why she approved the appearance of George and Charlotte on their first festive outing at the Sandringham church service yesterday.
But despite Charles accompanying Andrew to the earlier service, it is clear there is still no room, publicly, for the tainted Duke. And what of Harry and Meghan in Canada?
Their Sandringham snub is widely seen as another misstep, even by fellow royals.
Yesterday, the Queen made very clear what her vision of the future family is. Whether that includes Harry and Meghan remains to be seen.
Queen's Christmas message - Her Majesty describes 2019 as 'quite bumpy' in annual speech
- GOT a story? RING The Sun on 0207 782 4104 or WHATSAPP on 07423720250 or EMAIL [email protected]