KATE Middleton looked the picture of festive elegance as she arrived with husband Prince William for the Christmas Day Church service in Sandringham.
Today, the Princess of Wales, 43, put on a chic display in tartan for the annual festive occasion, which takes place at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk Estate.
The mum-of-three, who walked alongside her children – Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven – recycled one of her best loved coats for the festivities.
The BLAZÉ MILANO Lahloo Anyway Midi Coat has been a favourite over the years for the princess who has previously sported the ensemble on four occasions.
The £979 double breasted brown tartan coat was the perfect thing to take the chill off today as temperatures plummeted to a chilly 6°C in Norfolk.
The trusty coat is a reliable fashion choice for the mum-of-three who wore it to the same church service in December 2021.
It made a second appearance in September 2024, again at a church service, before being spotted on two further outings in 2025, once to a visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in January and then for a visit to HMP Styal the following month.
The royals were greeted by hundreds of fans who had descended on Sandringham hoping to catch a glimpse of the King and Queen.
Some even camped out overnight from as early as 9pm to see and potentially chat with some members of the Royal Family.
Loyal royalists came from far and wide, with visitors across The Pond from Canada and Mexico waiting by the metal fences.
The Prince of Wales divulged last year he was spending the day with 45 members of his family “all in one room”.
But off the guest list is Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, with the former prince banished from the royal family and stripped of his titles over his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Andrew has recently made a slew of headlines following the latest release of so-called “Epstein files”. He vehemently denies any wrongdoing.
The royal family usually walk to church on Christmas morning and enjoy a traditional turkey roast with all the trimmings, before sitting down to watch the King’s Christmas broadcast on television.
Last year, Charles used his Christmas address to pay tribute to the “selfless” doctors and nurses who provided “strength, care and comfort” during cancer treatment for him and the Princess of Wales.
Their Christmas Day celebrations come after the Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte’s pre-recorded Christmas piano duet aired.
The mother and daughter sat together to play a piece they know well by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, for Kate’s Christmas carol concert.
Kate and Charlotte’s piano performance was for the Together at Christmas concert, held at Westminster Abbey on December 5, and was pre-recorded last week so did not feature at the live event – but it was aired as part of the ITV1 screening of the service on Christmas Eve.
KATE’S HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS MESSAGED
In her opening speech at yesterday’s carol service, Kate said: “Thank you for joining this ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service.
“At its heart, Christmas speaks of love taking form in the simplest, most human ways. Not in sentimental or grand gestures, but gentle ones.
“A moment of listening, a word of comfort, a friendly conversation, a helping hand, presence.
“These simple acts of care might seem small, but they contribute to the beautiful tapestry of life to which we all belong.”
The Princess of Wales added: “Christmas is a time that reminds us how deeply our lives are woven together.
“Just as the roots of trees share strength beneath the soil, unseen but vital, so too do we.
“We are drawn by an instinctive pull towards belonging and connection.
“Even with all the rushing around and familiar traditions, there is a quieter sense of what it calls out in us.
“There is a softness to the season that reminds us of something easy to forget; that what we do matters
“Our words, our choices, and even the ways we look out for one another – they ripple outward, touching lives we may never see.
“At a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain, the Christmas season invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another with generosity of heart, understanding and hope.
“This Carol Service offers a moment of collective togetherness, a chance to celebrate the spirit of community and service, and to honour the visible and invisible bonds that unite us all.
“The time, care and compassion you give, often quietly and unspoken, and without any expectation or recognition, make an extraordinary difference to the lives of others.
“As the year draws to a close, I hope this season brings you moments of peace and clarity, and that you too, feel surrounded by the same love and care that you offer so freely.
“Thank you for the warmth you have given and the kindness you have shown, and the quiet constant light you bring to others.
“Wishing you a very Happy Christmas.”
The Waleses are spending the festive season together, but will visit the Norfolk royal residence on Christmas Day.
The family-of-five experienced a major change just a few weeks ago when they moved into their eight-bedroom “forever home”, Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The change is seen as a fresh start for the Waleses after Kate’s recovery from cancer, which she announced at the start of 2025, following what William branded a “brutal” 2024.
Elsewhere, the outgoing leader of the Catholic Church in England and Wales, Cardinal Vincent Nichols, is to give a midnight mass homily.
He is expected to tell the Westminster cathedral congregation: “We are without composure, often sensing desolation and dismay. Here we find our consolation and reassurance in the Lord.
“Every day we face stories of increasing division in our society. Here, in him, we are given the source and pathway to cohesion and unity in our human family.”
