Charlotte and George make up for ill Prince Philip

Princess Charlotte and Prince ­George are expected to make their Christmas Day debut alongside the Queen.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George in September. Picture: Getty Images

Princess Charlotte and Prince ­George are expected to make their Christmas Day debut alongside the Queen at the annual Sandringham church service.

The anticipated public appearance of the two — and perhaps also their younger brother Prince Louis, 19 months — will cheer the adoring royal watchers who line up on the chilly Sandringham ­estate each year.

The Queen will be particularly heartened by having George, 6, and four-year-old Charlotte around her as it is likely that her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh will be too ill to attend.

George, a Chelsea football fan and a keen artist, and the sparky Charlotte will have already opened their Christmas gifts from Santa. They will have also received gifts from the Queen on Christmas Eve — as the royals ­exchange small novelty gifts at that time in a nod to their ­European roots.

Prince Philip, 98, has spent the past few nights in King Edward VII’s Hospital in central London, receiving treatment for a “pre-existing condition”.

The family had been hoping he would be discharged in time to return to Sandringham, where he has been spending his retirement, for the Christmas lunch.

The Queen regularly attends St Mary Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate over Christmas and went to the Sunday service  accompanied by ­Sophie, the Countess of Wessex, Prince Edward and their children.

On Christmas Day the Queen is driven to the church, just 400m from the main residence, Sandringham Hall, but the rest of the family walk through the wooded estate.

It has been suggested that Andrew, banned from public duties after a disastrous interview about his friendship with convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, may ­arrive by car with the Queen to avoid walking past the crowds.

This year Prince Harry and his wife the Duchess of Sussex and baby Archie will miss the royals’ Christmas, electing to spend it in Canada with Meghan’s mother.