Queen Camilla’s Christmas: Sandringham Welcomes a New Guest List

Royal Christmas at Sandringham Welcomes New Guests

In a significant departure from tradition, Queen Camilla’s children and grandchildren are anticipated to join King Charles for Christmas at Sandringham this year.

This marks the first time that Tom Parker Bowles, 48, and Laura Lopes, 45, the Queen’s children from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, have been invited to the festivities at Sandringham House.

The adjustment in the guest list, reported by ITV Royal Editor Chris Ship, reflects a departure from the usual arrangements since Queen Elizabeth’s passing in 2022.

The holiday gathering is expected to include the Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their children and other senior royals.

Tom Parker Bowles, a renowned food critic and MasterChef star, shares two children with his ex-wife Sara Buys, while Laura Lopes, the Queen’s daughter, has three children with her husband Harry Lopes. The Queen is known to share a close bond with her grandchildren, as evident from their roles in the King’s Coronation.

Camilla’s three grandsons, along with Arthur, played pivotal roles as Pages of Honors during the Coronation.

At the recent Coronation Concert at Windsor Castle, the Queen, 76, was seen waving to her children and grandchildren. While there is speculation about an invitation to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, Buckingham Palace has refrained from commenting on the reports.

Sources suggest that King Charles remains open to mending his relationship with Prince Harry and is willing to extend a welcome if they choose to spend the festive season in the UK.

Despite the recent flurry of briefings from Team Sussex, the King’s stance is one of openness, and any decision regarding their Christmas plans remains uncertain.

The royal family typically finalizes Christmas arrangements by this time, but given the unique circumstances, the final details are yet to be confirmed. The possibility of a New Year visit to Scotland for the Sussexes has also been considered, adding an element of unpredictability to the holiday plans.