The Prince and Princess of Wales led a joyful procession to the Christmas Day church service this morning, presenting a united and beaming front alongside their three children. The family outing to St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham marked a significant and heartening moment for the royals, coming after a challenging period.
A Festive Family Outing
On 25 December 2025, Catherine, Princess of Wales, dressed in a chic brown coat, walked alongside her daughter, Princess Charlotte, who mirrored her mother's style in a lighter shade. Prince George strode beside his father, Prince William, while the focus for many royal watchers was on seven-year-old Prince Louis in the centre of the family group.
Louis looked smart in a tailored coat and long dark trousers, an ensemble that sparked discussion among followers of royal tradition. For years, an unwritten sartorial rule suggested that young boys in the Royal Family should wear shorts until the age of eight. Given Louis's age, some speculated he was breaking with this perceived protocol.
Debunking the 'Protocol' Myth
However, a closer look at recent Christmases reveals the Waleses have taken a more relaxed approach to such traditions. Prince Louis has been photographed in long trousers on Christmas Day for the past three years. The only exception was his first Christmas service appearance in 2022, when he did wear shorts. This pattern clearly indicates a conscious and consistent family choice, effectively debunking any claims of a breach in formal etiquette.
The wider Royal Family was also in attendance. King Charles III and Queen Camilla were joined by the Princess Royal and her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence. A few steps behind the monarch were Anne’s daughter, Zara Tindall, and her husband, former England rugby player Mike Tindall.
A Season of New Beginnings
The festive celebrations follow a year of profound change and recovery for the Wales family. The outing comes just weeks after they moved into their new eight-bedroom "forever home," Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park. This move is widely seen as a fresh start following the Princess of Wales's recovery from cancer, which she announced at the start of 2025.
The family's Christmas spirit was also shared nationally on Christmas Eve, when a pre-recorded piano duet performed by Kate and Princess Charlotte aired on ITV1. The piece, by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, was recorded for the Princess's Together at Christmas carol concert held at Westminster Abbey on 5 December.
Notably absent from the royal gatherings was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson. The former prince remains distanced from official family duties following the controversy surrounding his links to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Later in the day, the family was expected to enjoy a traditional turkey roast and watch the King's Christmas broadcast. King Charles III chose to record this year's message at Westminster Abbey, a site of deep personal and historical significance. It is where he crowned, where the Prince and Princess of Wales married in 2011, and where Kate's annual carol concert is held.
His address was anticipated to pay tribute to Britain's war veterans, reflecting on the 80th anniversaries of VE Day and VJ Day commemorated in 2025. This continues a theme of acknowledging public service, following his 2024 message which honoured the "selfless" medical staff who cared for him and the Princess of Wales during their cancer treatments.
