King and Queen walk to church at Sandringham after ‘brutal’ year

The King attended the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church service, after a “brutal” year in which he and his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, were both diagnosed with cancer.

Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church, past a crowd of well-wishers.

They were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

The Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales smiled to the crowds (Aaron Chown/PA)

Also in the walking party was the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

Absent was the Duke of York, who has been dogged by links to an alleged Chinese spy.

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children
The Princess of Wales, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte, the Prince of Wales and Prince George (Aaron Chown/PA)

They were expected to spend Christmas at Royal Lodge, the home they share in Windsor Great Park, Berkshire.

Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.

 Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, followed by the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Edinburgh
Lady Louise Windsor, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, followed by the Earl of Wessex and the Duke of Edinburgh (Aaron Chown/PA)

Earlier this year, William described the past year, in which his wife and father were treated for cancer, as “brutal”.

He said that 2024 has “probably been the hardest year in my life” and a “dreadful” experience.

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