Prince Andrew joins Royal family for Christmas church service

25 December 2019, 09:38

The Duke of York walked alongside Prince Charles
The Duke of York walked alongside Prince Charles. Picture: PA
EJ Ward

By EJ Ward

Prince Charles and Prince Andrew have arrived together at an early morning Christmas Day church service on the Queen's Sandringham estate.

The brothers walked side-by-side as they headed into St Mary Magdalene Church for the 9am service, ahead of the royal family's traditional 11am service.

The Duke of York has been keeping a low profile since stepping his public role in the Royal family after a disastrous interview over his relationship with sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

The Queen arrived at the church in a Range Rover, but it is not thought her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh, will be attending after he was discharged from hospital on Christmas Eve.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte joined the Queen at the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service on her Sandringham Estate for the first time.

George, aged six, and four-year-old Charlotte walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church hand in hand with their parents the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

Prince Charles walked alongside them.

Queen arrives at church by car
Queen arrives at church by car. Picture: PA

Hundreds of well-wishers have joined a queue to catch a glimpse of members of the royal family ahead of the 11am service.

Meanwhile, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have posted a Christmas message on social media as they celebrate away from the Royal family this year.

An Instagram post on Harry and Meghan's official SussexRoyal account features the message on a navy background under the couple's monogram, which has a Santa hat resting on it.

It reads: "Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas - Their Royal Highnesses, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex."

The couple and their baby son Archie Mountbatten-Windsor are spending the festive season with the duchess's mother Doria Ragland.