Princess Catherine releases happy Christmas card but misses family gathering
William and Catherine’s Christmas card shows their family on a Norfolk beach but having recently finished chemotherapy, Kate is taking it easy in Norfolk, swerving an extended royal gathering at Buckingham Palace.
The Prince and Princess of Wales missed a family pre-Christmas get together on Thursday, but have released an annual festive card showing a happy scene of the family on a Norfolk beach.
Prince William and Princess Catherine swerved the extended Royal Family Christmas gathering at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, having already travelled north to their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall with their three children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte.
The royal gathering offers a chance for the cousins and more distant members of the royals to gather for Christmas cheer as many won’t attend the more intimate Christmas Day at Sandringham Hall.
As well as the Waleses, out of favour Prince Andrew was also absent on Thursday, having withdrawn because of continuing controversy with his financial links to an alleged Chinese spy.
However the York sisters, Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice attended the lunch. They have both decided to miss the Sandringham Christmas and spend the day with their in-laws instead.
The dynamics of the inner circle of King Charles and Queen Camilla will be on show on Christmas Day with a slimmed down monarchy walking to St Mary’s Magdalene Church on the Sandringham estate.
With King Charles, 76, continuing to have treatment for cancer, and Catherine, 42, confirming in September that she has completed her own chemotherapy treatment, there is a sensitivity for both about not having a tiring day.
On Thursday at Buckingham Palace the King and Queen was joined by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Prince Edward and Sophie as well as other more distant and senior royals. The guest list included Lord Frederick Windsor, his wife Sophie Winkleman and their daughter Isabella, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, the Earl of St Andrews, Lady Marina Windsor and Lady Amelia Windsor, Timothy Taylor, Lady Helen Taylor, Estella and Eloise Taylor, Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones and Lord Downpatrick.
Catherine and William confirmed they weren’t attending the day around the same time as releasing their Christmas card image, which is a photograph taken from the video issued when Catherine told the world she had finished chemotherapy.
The selection of the photograph to send to their closest family and friends as well as the causes they patron, indicates what a momentous time being declared cancer free was for Catherine. The family is shown beaming and cuddling together.
Catherine has gradually returned to a couple of high profile public events in the past few months, the most recent being on December 6 at Westminster Abbey for her ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service.
More Coverage
Syria’s rebel leaders have control of the country. Now what?
The new Islamist-led government promises moderation, but officials aren’t committing to issues such as women’s rights or free elections.
Israel vows to ‘decapitate’ Houthi leaders
Israel’s defence minister warns Houthi commanders they can expect the same fate as the leaders of Hamas and Hezbollah, who were assassinated in Tehran and Beirut earlier this year.