Well-wishers turn out for King and Kate at Sandringham
Supporters brought flowers and gifts for King Charles and Catherine as they made their way to the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham, after a difficult year for the royals.
Hundreds of well-wishers, armed with flowers, chocolates and soft toys, turned out to support King Charles and his daughter-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales as they made their way to the annual Christmas Day service at Sandringham, after a difficult year for the royals.
Both King Charles, 76, and 42-year-old Catherine have been battling cancer, and have undergone cancer treatments throughout 2024, and the crowds lining the route of the royal walk into St Mary Magdalene Church made it clear they were thrilled that both looked happy and healthy.
“We came here for Catherine,” John Loughrey, 69, told The London Times. “She’s been an inspiration the last year, what she’s been through. We hope we can see her today and give her these beautiful flowers.”
The King waved to the royal well wishers, and Catherine beamed as she held the hands of her youngest children Princess Charlotte, nine and Prince Louis, six, as they walked in fine misty rain from Sandringham Hall past a crowd that stood 12 deep. The Times repored that the queues so see the royals was longer than usual, with many making the journey to St Mary Magdalene Church for the first time.
The second in line to the throne, eleven-year-old Prince George walked calmly alongside his father, Prince William, 42.
The scene was reminiscent of 12 months ago, but then no one could have foretold the dramatic health upheaval that was to beset the two senior members within weeks of Christmas Day in 2023.
Catherine would not be seen in public until March, when she disclosed her unspecified cancer diagnosis. She said in September that she had finished her course of chemotherapy. Meanwhile Charles, who had surgery on his prostate in January was then struck with bad news about a different cancer, for which he is still receiving treatment.
On Wednesday royal watchers spent hours on the Norfolk estate waiting for the Royal Family to arrive.
Queen Camilla in a green coat, walked in the front row alongside Charles, who used his umbrella as a walking aid.
Then just behind them came the next generation of the monarchy: William and Catherine, also wearing a smart green coat, hat and a tartan scarf with their children.
Then followed the Tindalls: Zara and Mike and their children, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie, with their children, the elegantly dressed Lady Louise and James, the Earl of Wessex, Princess Anne and her husband and a procession of other family members.
King Charles’ brother Prince Andrew was conspicuous by his absence, having decided to stay away after controversial links with an alleged Chinese spy surfacing earlier this month. But Andrew’s daughter Princess Beatrice, pregnant with her second child joined the festivities after doctors had advised her against overseas travel. She had been originally been planning to spend the day with the family of her husband Eduardo Mapelli Mozzi in Italy.
The family were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams before heading inside and singing a series of Christmas carols, including the first hymn O Come, All Ye Faithful.
After an hour the family emerged to loud cheers from the crowd of nearly a thousand, and they went to greet members of the public who presented them with bunches of flowers.
Catherine even received a hug from a cancer survivor who told the royal she was an inspiration. Catherine replied: The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families.
“People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.’”
Well-wishers plied the younger royals with chocolates and stuffed toys, many wanting to indulge-Prince Louis.
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