The royals enjoyed a special reunion ahead of Christmas at Sandringham as the King and Queen hosted a festive gathering at Windsor Castle on Wednesday.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, 20, were among the guests pictured arriving in their cars for the family lunch.
Prince Edward, 59, sported a black blazer and white shirt as he drove his family through the gates at Charles’s Berkshire residence, while Sophie, 58, was wrapped up in a dark overcoat.
Lady Louise, who has returned home from St Andrews University in Scotland, was pictured in the back seat of the car, wearing what appeared to be a collared blouse.
The Princess Royal was also in attendance and was spotted arriving in Windsor with her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence.
Princess Anne, 73, wore a dark green coat and a white scarf, with a pearl necklace, while Sir Tim donned a gilet over his shirt and tie.
Charles has continued his late mother Queen Elizabeth II’s tradition of hosting extended members of his family before leaving to travel to Norfolk later this week.
The late Queen would traditionally host a gathering at Buckingham Palace days before taking the train from London to King’s Lynn.
Last year, Charles and Camilla hosted the pre-Christmas lunch for the first time at Windsor Castle, but chose to arrive at Sandringham privately.
The King’s nephew-in-law, Mike Tindall, has previously shared some insight into the royal family’s festive lunch, with the former rugby star revealing that the children get their own table to sit on in a different room.
Speaking on JOE UK’s House of Rugby podcast in 2019, he said: “I didn’t drink actually, this is the other one, the family lunch there must be about 70 of us there – there are seven tables and the kiddies have their own little one in a different room. I was on Prince Charles’ table. It was lovely, really good.”
Mike was also asked if the royals take part in Secret Santa, to which he replied: “Not on that day – no.”
Over the years, it’s been widely reported that the royals buy each other novelty or homemade gifts for Christmas, rather than lavish presents, which they exchange on Christmas Eve.
“She (the Queen) really cares,” she said. “I can remember being at Sandringham, for the first time, at Christmas. And I was worried what to give the Queen as her Christmas present. I was thinking, ‘Gosh, what should I give her?’
“I thought back to what I would give my own grandparents. And I thought, ‘I’ll make her something.’ This could have gone horribly wrong. But I decided to make my granny’s recipe of chutney.”
© © Bruce Bennett
Prince Andrew made a lowkey appearance
She added: “I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table. I think such a simple gesture went such a long way for me and I’ve noticed since she’s done that on lots of occasions and I think it just shows her thoughtfulness, really, and her care in looking after everybody.”
