Royals show united front at annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham

Despite notable absences, the Royals have presented a united front for the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham.

Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex arrive to attend Christmas Day Church service. Picture: Getty

The Duke of Edinburgh has missed the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham attended by the Queen and other Royals raising concerns about the 97 year old’s health.

But Buckingham Palace said the Duke is “in perfectly good health, he just wants to spend the day with his family”.

Also missing from the hour long service at St Mary’s Magdalene church was Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, who has a heavy cold.

But the Duke’s absence was keenly felt, particularly as he usually briskly leads the parade of Royals walking a short way down the lane from the Sandringham house to the church.

The last time the Duke has been seen in public was several weeks ago when he was carriage driving on the Windsor Estate.

Instead it was Prince Charles leading the way with a smiling front put on by Prince William and Prince Harry on the flanks with Meghan and Kate in between.

The Queen, wearing a cream coat and hat with cerise trim, arrived by car.

The Queen. Picture: AP

Kate wore a maroon coat and hat while pregnant Meghan went for a navy blue ensemble and the two smiled at each other as the crowd yelled out their best wishes and Merry Christmas messages.

Meghan went straight to one of the wellwishers who held up a sign showing her Instagram name. Jessica Daniels, 17, of Peterborough has messaged the Duchess from the time she was an actress in Suits and knew Meghan would recognise her name.

Jessica said:”I knew she would know my name and I just hoped she would see it, and she did. It was so lovely to finally meet her. She asked how I was.”

Meghan greets Jessica Daniels of Peterborough.

Meghan went straight up to one of her wellwishers, Jessica Daniels.

Jessica also met the Duchess of Cambridge who told her that her children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were up very early in the morning. She also remarked that it was lucky not to be raining, although the temperatures hovered just above zero.

Queen message

The Queen will deliver her Brexit-split British nation a special message in her annual Christmas message and she could be sending a small warning nudge to her grandchildren too.

In the prerecorded address Her Majesty reflected on the importance of treating others with consideration.

Queen Elizabeth II poses for a photo after she recorded her annual Christmas Day message. Picture: Getty

She says: “Even with the most deeply held differences, treating the other person with respect and as a fellow human being is always a good first step towards greater understanding.’’

Britain is deeply divided over the Brexit issue and the British government is in a state of near paralysis trying to get the Brexit Withdrawal bill passed, due to be voted upon in mid January.

But much closer to home there is frisson and tension between Prince William and Kate and the newlyweds Prince Harry and Meghan although they have been trying to present a happy front.

The Sussexes have decided not to move into their newly renovated apartment in Buckingham Palace next door to the Cambridges and will move into Frogmore House on the Windsor Estate once the existing servants have moved out and major renovations completed.

Even for the Christmas celebrations at Sandringham Estate, Prince Harry and Meghan decided to squeeze in with other family members at Sandringham House rather than the more comfortable and spacious rooms at Anmer Hall, Prince William and Kate’s place a few kilometres down the road. Last year the two families stayed together but British newspapers reported there was a huge row and relationships have since deteriorated.

The Duchess of Sussex, labelled Duchess Difficult by her staff because of her demanding ways, and the Duchess of Cambridge are “very different people’’ according to Royal sources.

The very public split between Meghan and her father Thomas has also caused a divide between the Queen’s courtiers at Buckingham Palace and Meghan’s at Kensington Palace.

The Queen has offered assistance in contacting Mr Markle — who has made desperate public pleas for his daughter to contact him and break six month’s of silence, but Meghan has insisted she will handle the issue herself.

Vanity Fair reported: “She (Meghan) didn’t want to engage and thought that she could handle it on her own.

“There was a lot of tension between courtiers within the two royal households and I think it just got to a point where it was stalemate and neither could move.”

In her Christmas message the Queen referred to places from which she draws strength and encouragement and the birth of Jesus.

“Through the many changes I have seen over the years, faith, family and friendship have

been not only a constant for me but a source of personal comfort and reassurance.” She added: ‘’I believe His message of peace on earth and goodwill to all is never out of date. It can be

heeded by everyone; it’s needed as much as ever.”

Before the broadcast of the speech, the Royal family attended their annual church service to sing hymns and carols at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham Estate and were greeted en route by thousands of wellwishers.

They then tucked into a traditional Christmas turkey lunch with all the trimmings, including much loved brussels sprouts and a Christmas pudding with brandy.

On Boxing Day the royals, led by 97-year-old Prince Philip, partake in a pheasant shoot. It is uncertain if Prince Harry will attend the shoot because Meghan abhors the activity.