The short walk of the royal family to the holiday mass has turned into over the years one of the most watched moments of Christmas. And this year, the interest was even greater than usual: Princess Kate gradually returned to her duties after a difficult treatment, and the public wants to see her – smiling and in a good mood with the whole family. And he couldn’t miss either King Charles IIIwho recently announced encouraging news about his health.
A tradition that the whole world follows
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Christmas at Sandringham has a long history. The castle became a favorite retreat of the monarchs decades ago, but in the annual tradition it changed only Queen Elizabeth II It was during her reign that the custom was established for the family to go to a church service together, which is only a few minutes’ walk from the main building of the estate. And in the late 1980s, this walk became an event not to be missed by thousands of fans and the world’s media.
Christmas morning at Sandringham
The family spends Christmas Eve in privatein the spirit of German traditions brought to the royal family by Queen Victoria: they give each other gifts already December 24th and then everyone gathers for a gala dinner. Breakfast, preparations follow in the morning, and around eleven o’clock comes the moment that photographers and fans are waiting for: the royals leave for the church.
The monarch and his wife usually walk in the lead, followed by Prince William and his family. The fashion choices of Kate and the other participating ladies have already become almost as much a topic of attention as the mass itself. The service is followed by a short meeting with the public – the family accepts flowers, greets the children and has their photos taken. Only then does he return to the estate, where the private part of Christmas Day continues.
Photo: Profimedia.cz
People get up after dark
The atmosphere in front of the church is exceptional every year. The most loyal fans arrive after dark to secure a good seat by the road. They wait for hours in the winter, often with thermoses of tea and Christmas hats, just to see their favorites up close for a few minutes. The past years have been extremely difficult for the British monarchy. The diagnosis of cancer was announced first by the king, then also by princess kate. Both have withdrawn from public life for a while, and the palace has repeatedly emphasized that health is an absolute priority.
The monarch’s Christmas speech
After the morning service at Sandringham on Christmas Eve traditionally follows another important part of the holiday – King Charles III’s Christmas speech It is pre-recorded and broadcast on the afternoon of December 25, usually around 3pm local time, a time when many families are finishing their holiday lunch and gathering around the TV screens.
For this year, the speech was filmed in the Marian Chapel (Lady Chapel) in Westminster Abbey in London, which is a historically significant spiritual place associated with British history and traditions. According to the local press, the speech can be expected to be full of hope and optimism. Mainly thanks to the fact that the treatment of Charles III. is going better than expected. Which, by the way the king himself hinted recently in his speech. According to reports from the palace, he is feeling well, working on a limited schedule and gradually returning to duties.
His presence at the Christmas mass is thus perceived as an important signal of stability. This year, however, Princess Kate was once again the most watched person. You can see how she, the children and the whole family enjoyed it in the gallery.
