Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor head to the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham while William, Kate and other family members stay away for fear of attracting large crowds.
- The couple were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor today at church
- The family went to St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, which is under second-level restrictions
- This year’s main service normally attended by the queen and other members of the royal family was canceled
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Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex attended a Christmas day church service in Sandringham this morning.
The couple were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk.
Sandringham, in Norfolk, is at the second level of coronavirus regulations and is allowed to meet to perform services at a place of worship with other members of his household.
The family headed to church at 11 a.m. in a Land Rover Discovery and attended the morning service with other members of a pre-registered public congregation.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, (who appear in their masks) attended a Christmas Day church service in Sandringham this morning.
The couple were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk. In the photo Sophie is seen in the front of the car
The family went to church at 11 a.m. in a Land Rover Discovery and attended the morning service with other members of a pre-registered public congregation.
The family is believed to be staying at Sandringham’s main house on the Norfolk estate and has been there since last Sunday. The picture shows Lady Louise Windsor in the back of the car
The family is believed to be staying at Sandringham’s main house on the Norfolk estate and has been there since last Sunday.
This year’s main service normally attended by the queen and other members of the royal family was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The family left the service at 11.45am with Prince Edward and his wife in masks and returned to Sandringham House.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
The family left the service at 11.45am with Prince Edward and his wife (pictured) in masks and returned to Sandringham House
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie and sons James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor lead the church service on Christmas morning morning
Earlier this week it was revealed that William, Kate and other members of the royal family would not attend Sandringham Church on Christmas Day for the first time in 32 years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Norfolk police issued a statement on Wednesday confirming that “no member” of the royal family would be in the traditional service at St Mary Magdalene’s church.
William and Kate stayed away even as they spend the festive holidays at their country house, Anmer Hall, just two miles away.
The family headed to church at 11am in a Land Rover Discovery before leaving to return to Sandringham
The service was held today at St Mary Magdalene’s Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. Normally other members of the royal family would attend
Prince Edward and Sophie attend last year’s church service with their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor
Police broke the convention to make the announcement to try to convince members of the public to stay away from the church today.
Thousands of loyal fans usually pack in the paddock next to the church to see how the queen and other members of the royal family attend the 11 a.m. service.
But they were advised to move away this year because of the risk of the Covid-19 spreading among the crowds that gathered to watch the Royals.
The Norfolk police statement said: “Members of the public and the media are warned that there will be no actual events in Sandringham this year.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, attend the annual service of the Royal Christmas Church in Sandringham last year
Norfolk police confirmed earlier this week that there would be no members of the royal family attending the traditional church service in Sandringham this year, in breach of the 32-year-old tradition. Pictured: Prince William and wife Kate, and Prince Harry and wife Meghan arrive at Sandringham’s service in 2017
“Members of the royal family will not attend the usual Christmas Day service.”
In early December it was revealed that the 94-year-old queen and 99-year-old Prince Philip will be spending Christmas quietly at Windsor Castle instead of Sandringham.
The royal family has spent Christmas in Sandringham every year since 1988, when they moved the festivities to Norfolk due to the wiring change at Winsor Castle.
The queen is usually led in service in her maroon Bentley, while other family members walk a quarter of a mile to the church from Sandringham House.
Last year Prince George and his sister, Princess Charlotte, mingled with crowds as they first attended the 18th-century church service.