King Charles hosts royal Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle
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King Charles is hosting his first annual Christmas lunch for the royal family at large as monarch at Windsor Castle.
This year’s event brings the family together for the biggest gathering since the Queen’s funeral in September, and the first time the traditional gathering has taken place since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Dozens of royals are expected to attend, with the Queen Consort and Earl and Countess of Wessex among the first to arrive, but notable absentees include Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, and their son Archie and daughter Lilibet, who remain in the US
The turkey and side dishes lunch is usually held annually at Buckingham Palace on the Wednesday before Christmas, shortly before the monarch leaves for Sandringham for the festive season.
The queen consort looked serene as she was brought to Windsor Castle today, bundled up in a navy blue puffer jacket, ahead of the annual Christmas lunch.
However, this year, in a break with tradition, the event will take place at Windsor Castle.
The first to arrive this afternoon was King Charles himself, who traveled to Windsor in a carriage.
He opted for a smart baby blue tie for the occasion, which he paired with a navy suit.
Meanwhile, the queen consort followed shortly after, appearing composed as she was led onto the castle grounds.
King Charles is hosting his first annual Christmas lunch for the royal family at large as monarch at Windsor Castle this afternoon.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne donned a pair of dark sunglasses as her husband Tim Laurence took her to the event.
She was bundled up in a navy puffer jacket, which she paired with a blue velvet blouse underneath.
Prince Edward brought his wife, Sophie Wessex, and their teenage daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, to the grounds of Windsor Castle.
While the Countess opted for a chic brown coat for the occasion, 18-year-old Lady Louise showed up in a bright pink floral top for the outing.
The modest 18-year-old, often seen in casual country attire or prim dresses, spent her childhood largely out of the spotlight, recently beginning to attend St Andrew’s University.
Meanwhile, Sophie Wessex arrived at the event alongside her teenage daughter Lady Louise (pictured).
Prince Edward brought his family to the event at Windsor Castle this afternoon, with Sophie and her daughter Lady Louise in the back seat.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne donned a pair of dark sunglasses as her husband Tim Laurence took her to the event.
The tradition is one of the rare times when the monarch’s entire extended family comes together, and it is a chance for the King to celebrate with those who do not receive an invitation to spend Christmas in Norfolk with the royals.
The family sits at round tables, enjoying a lunch of Sandringham-raised turkey and snacking on crackers.
It is the first time the royals have gathered for the traditional celebration since before the covid-19 pandemic.
The queen consort appeared in high spirits as she bundled up in a navy puffer jacket, which she paired with a blue velvet blouse underneath.
The Queen Consort appeared in high spirits before the festive lunch at Windsor Castle this afternoon, which is the first of its kind for several years.
According to The TelegraphThe Duke of York is expected to be among those attending the event.
Last year, the late Queen had planned to welcome 50 family members to Windsor Castle, where she was residing at the time, but canceled due to fears over the Omnicron variant.
Lunch was also canceled in December 2020 when London was on lockdown and people were urged not to travel the country due to Covid.
Last week, several of the royals gathered for Kate’s Together at Christmas carol service, which took place at Westminster Abbey.
Meanwhile, King Charles was the first member of the royal family to arrive today for the festive occasion.
The lunch, which will bring together various members of the royal family, is a regular tradition for The Firm. However, today it is being hosted for the first time by King Charles.
Judi, an expert on body language, said the royal family projected “unity and togetherness” when they gathered for the Christmas carol service after the latest series of attacks by Harry and Meghan.
Ms James said the princess’s “warm smile of pride” as she watched her children exchange kisses with the monarch “shows everything we need to know about the family unit.”
She said further clues came from “extra touches” including “lingering smiles and eye contact”.
There were audible cheers from members of the public who shouted ‘we love you’ to William and Kate as they stood in the cold to greet the future king and queen outside the Abbey.
Poignantly, William read a passage from the late Queen’s 2012 Christmas message in which Her late Majesty said she was “always struck by the spirit of togetherness” at Christmas.
It was a time, he had added, ‘when we remember that God sent his only son to serve, not to be served.’
Buckingham Palace and Kensington Palace have said they will not comment on Harry and Meghan’s claims, and the King is said to be determined never to watch the six-part series.
Today’s gathering comes after it was confirmed that the King, Queen Consort and members of the Royal Family will spend Christmas at Sandringham for the first time in three years.
It comes as snapshots showing the Princess of Wales planting a tree in memory of the Queen were released last week.
Charles and Camilla will celebrate Christmas Day at the late Queen’s former Norfolk estate with family members, marking a return to traditional royal festivities.
The gathering at Sandringham will be the first time the Royal Family has spent Christmas at the private royal residence since 2019, and it will be a moving period after the Queen’s death in September.
Buckingham Palace said in a brief statement: “Their Majesties the King and Queen Consort, accompanied by members of the Royal Family, will attend Christmas Day morning service at Sandringham Church on Sunday 25 December 2022.” .
Charles and Camilla are likely to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, the Princess Royal and their family, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children, but it remains to be seen if the disgraced Duke of York will make a public appearance.
Questions also remain about Harry and Meghan, who are said to be missing Charles’ first Christmas dinner at Sandringham as monarch, after their Netflix series launched an unprecedented attack on the Royal Family, accusing the King of ” lie” and the Prince of Wales. to ‘yell’ at his brother.
Christmas at Sandringham follows a break, when, due to the Covid pandemic, the late Queen spent the festive period at Windsor Castle two years in a row, the first with the Duke of Edinburgh, separated from his wider family in lockdown.
Royal Christmases includes a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, greetings from well-wishers and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.
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