Status: 26.12.2023, 22:00 p.m.
By: Susanne Kröber
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Traditionally, the British royal family attends the service at Sandringham on the morning of Christmas Day. This year, Charles and Camilla showed up with surprise guests.
Sandringham – Officially, it's the walk to St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, but for members of the Royal Family, the walk to the traditional Christmas service is also a show every year. All eyes are on King Charles III (75), Queen Camilla (76), Prince William (41), Kate Middleton (41) and their family. Who is allowed to accompany them to church – and who is not?
After 30 years: Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson gets to celebrate Christmas with the Royal Family again
As expected, Prince Harry (39) and Meghan Markle (42) and their children Archie (4) and Lilibet (2) were conspicuous by their absence. Those who had hoped for a rapprochement between the Sussexes and the rest of the British royal family in the form of a visit at Christmas were disappointed. The fronts are still too hardened, Harry and Meghan celebrated Christmas in their adopted home of California.
On the other hand, two other guests provided a surprise. Prince Andrew (63), the younger brother of King Charles, was allowed to attend the service, despite his involvement in the abuse scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein (66, † 2019) and Ghislaine Maxwell (62). Andrew had also been there last year - his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson (64), on the other hand, had not been there for about 30 years. The couple officially separated in 1992 and divorced four years later.
Christmas service at Sandringham: These royals were there
Don't be so timid, Fergie! After an absence of around 30 years, King Charles and Camilla invited Sarah Ferguson back to the Christmas service at Sandringham. (Photomontage) © IMAGO/i Images/Cover-Images
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But despite their separation, Sarah "Fergie" Ferguson and Prince Andrew still get along very well, he also supported the Duchess of York after her breast cancer surgery in the summer. Now the ex-couple attended the Christmas service together in Sandringham, together with daughters Princess Beatrice (35) and Princess Eugenie (33) and their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (40) and Jack Brooksbank (37). King Charles had also invited Andrew and Sarah to a summer holiday at Balmoral.
Prince Andrew (center) attended Christmas Mass with his daughters Princess Eugenie (left, with husband Jack Brooksbank) and Princess Beatrice (right, with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi). (Photomontage) © IMAGO/Cover-Images/i Images
The holiday party was completed by Princess Anne (73) and her husband Sir Timothy Laurence (68), Prince Edward (59), Duchess Sophie (58) and their children Lady Louise (20) and James Mountbatten-Windsor (16), and Princess Anne's daughter from her first marriage, Zara Tindall (42) with husband Mike Tindall (45) and daughters Lena (5) and Mia (9), who provided a touching moment with Prince Louis (5) at Sandringham. Of course, he also had his siblings Prince George (10) and Princess Charlotte (8) in tow. Sources used:Instagram