Kate chats with well-wishers on Christmas Day walkabout

The Princess of Wales has gone on a mammoth walkabout, meeting well-wishers as the royal family marked Christmas Day by attending church.

The monarchy, led by the King and Queen, celebrated the high point of the festive season with a service of Christmas carols and prayers at St Mary Magdalene Church on Charles’s private Sandringham Estate in Norfolk.

Hundreds had gathered in bitter temperatures under clear blue skies to catch a glimpse of the royals as they walked to and from church just a short stroll from Sandringham House.

Missing was the disgraced Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, whose friendship with paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein proved his downfall and saw him stripped of his titles by his brother the King.

His daughters chose to spend Christmas with the King and other royals, rather than their father, with Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Princess Eugenie and her spouse Jack Brooksbank joining the walk.

Camilla brought some festive cheer in a red coat and matching hat, with the Princess Royal in a similar hue, while Kate was in a brown tweed-style outfit.

After the service the King, the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children chatted to crowds who lined their route back to Sandringham, with many wearing festive Santa hats, tinsel necklaces or reindeer antlers.

Kate chatted to dozens of the well-wishers for almost 20 minutes after most of the royal family had reached the house and was given armfuls of flowers, which were carried away by police officers.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis also received gifts from well-wishers, from soft toys to boxes of chocolates and games.

Charlotte gave Gemma Clark, 45, with her father Paul Clark, 75, a hug when the fan asked for the embrace.

Ms Clark, from Long Sutton near King’s Lynn and a regular at the event, also gave the young princess a bookmark and a ballerina brooch as presents, and said: “I asked Charlotte for a hug and she said yes, it was absolutely amazing, I loved it – I wish I could hug her again.

“I wasn’t surprised, she’s given me hugs in the past.”

Mr Clark gave William a set of origami planes for his sons to make and said: “William told me George would be able to name all those planes, they’re historic ones like Spitfires and Hurricanes.”

Among the royals attending church were the Princess Royal and husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Anne’s daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall with their daughters, and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children.

Tom Hirst, 42, who lives in Norwich, was with his sister Victoria Holland, 43, and they chatted to William and Kate. Mr Hirst said afterwards: “The children were fascinated with the chocolate selections they were given and William told them ‘you’d better brush your teeth’.

“I think he was referring to after they’ve eaten the chocolates!”

Andrew is believed to be spending Christmas at his Royal Lodge home near Windsor Castle, which he will soon vacate for a property on the Sandringham Estate, according to reports. Marsh Farm is being renovated for the move in the new year.

The former duke was forced to give up his Windsor home after an outcry when it emerged he had been paying a peppercorn rent for the large property.

The King, the Queen and their guests will enjoy a turkey lunch, likely to have been bred in Norfolk, and it is thought they will sit down to watch the King’s Christmas message at 3pm.

The royal family follow the German tradition of opening their presents on Christmas Eve, and Charles has chosen Bend It Like Beckham director Gurinder Chadha’s new film Christmas Karma – a modern retelling of Dickens’ A Christmas Carol – as the movie to be screened at Sandringham this Christmas.