The Christmas festivities at Buckingham Palace had their littlest stars front and centre as Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte joined the royal family for the annual lunch hosted by King Charles.
Prince Louis, seven, seemed less than thrilled as he was spotted pouting from the back seat of one of the royal cars heading into central London.
By contrast, his older siblings, George, 12, and Charlotte, 10, appeared composed and excited to attend alongside their parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Arrival of the Prince and Princess of Wales
Prince William drove the family to Buckingham Palace, with Princess Catherine seated beside him, while the children took the back.
Prince George looked particularly smart in a suit and tie, ready for the festive occasion.
The young royals’ appearances delighted onlookers, adding a touch of youthful charm to the royal gathering.
Other Royals in Attendance
The royal Christmas lunch also saw Prince Edward, Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, and their daughter Lady Amelia Windsor arriving, alongside the Duke of Kent and Lady Sarah Chatto.
Princesses Eugenie and Beatrice were back in attendance, joining their father’s siblings despite recent absences from events such as Catherine’s carol concert on December 5.
Eugenie added a playful festive touch by wearing candy cane earrings, showing the family’s lighter side amidst the more serious undertones of the royal gathering.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor’s Absence
A notable absence was Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who has been stripped of his titles over his controversial ties to convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.
The former prince, who had been riding his horse in Windsor Park in the pouring rain, was noticeably missing from the palace celebrations.
The Metropolitan Police recently confirmed they would take no further action regarding claims that Andrew asked a protection officer to investigate his sexual assault accuser, Virginia Giuffre.
Nonetheless, King Charles appeared keen to separate his treatment of Andrew from his daughters, allowing Eugenie and Beatrice to join the festivities without apparent penalty.
Loss of Military Rank and Titles
Andrew’s absence follows the stripping of his final military title.
At 65, he is no longer permitted to use the rank of Vice-Admiral, which has been reverted to Commander (Retired) Royal Navy.
Defence Secretary John Healey confirmed the change, noting it aligned with King Charles’ wishes.
While Andrew retains the medals he earned as a Navy helicopter pilot during the 1982 Falklands War, his formal military standing has now been fully rescinded.
Transition Away From Royal Lodge
Further marking his diminishing role within the royal family, Andrew will have to leave Royal Lodge in Windsor and relocate to a property on King Charles’ Sandringham Estate.
These steps, along with previous removals of titles and patronages, underscore his continuing distancing from royal duties and privileges.
Christmas Traditions Continue
Despite these controversies, the King maintained tradition by hosting the family meal ahead of their seasonal trip to Sandringham.
The gathering allowed the younger royals to take centre stage and reminded observers of the family’s ongoing festive customs, balancing celebration with the complexities of recent royal developments.
What’s Next
As the royals head to Sandringham for Christmas, all eyes remain on how King Charles navigates family dynamics, especially regarding members with scandalous pasts.
The celebrations offered both continuity and contrast, highlighting youthful joy amid the weight of recent controversies.
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