King Charles III’s Christmas lunch had fellow royal family members in attendance, while others skipped the pre-holiday festivities.
Charles, 76, hosted a lunch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday, December 19, which he attended alongside wife Queen Camilla. Photos showed various members of the royal family in cars on their way to the event. Prince Edward and his wife, Sophie, were in attendance alongside Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.
While a pregnant Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were spotted heading to the palace on Thursday with their husbands — Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank, respectively — their parents, Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, were noticeably missing from the day’s events. (It was previously reported that the sisters would skip out on the royal family’s Christmas celebration at Sandringham this year in favor of spending the holidays with their respective in-laws.)
Andrew’s absence from the lunch hosted by his brother comes after allegations that he was connected to a businessman who had been accused of being a Chinese spy. The alleged spy, referred to as H6, was banned from the U.K. in 2023 following security court proceedings.
Related: Inside the Royal Family‘s Annual Christmas Celebrations and Traditions
The members of the British royal family have several traditions for the holiday season. Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton — who share Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — have always made sure to prioritize family traditions with their three kids. “It’s important to them that their kids share childhood traditions like their […]
It was alleged that H6 tried to gain Andrew’s influence and was invited to his 2020 birthday party. The Duke of York, 64, claimed that he had “ceased all contact” with the alleged spy in a statement to the BBC on December 14. This team stated that Andrew crossed paths with the man “through official channels,” stating that “nothing of a sensitive nature [was] ever discussed.” (Buckingham Palace declined to comment since Andrew is not a current working royal.)
Also absent at the Thursday luncheon was Prince William and Princess Kate Middleton. The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three kids — George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6 — have already traveled to Norfolk, England where they plan to spend Christmas at the Sandringham Estate, multiple outlets reported. People, specifically, said on Thursday that they never had plans to attend the lunch.
Related: Look Back at the Royal Family’s Christmas Cards Over the Years
Britain’s beloved royal family has been spreading holiday cheer over the years through their festive season’s greetings cards. Prince William and Duchess Kate often used the special occasion to document their growing family after their 2011 nuptials. The pair, who share Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, showed how much their children have grown […]
“This past year has been one of the most challenging yet for [them],” royal expert Sharon Carpenter shared in Us Weekly’s cover story earlier this month, referring to Kate’s cancer battle. “You can only imagine the relief and gratitude they must be feeling.”
Carpenter continued: “Kate is genuinely looking forward to joining the royal family at Sandringham for Christmas. The holidays will no doubt be a chance for the entire family to give thanks.”
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