Just hours after wowing with her piano performance, Princess Charlotte charmed the crowds at Sandringham – with some comparing her to the late Queen
Princess Charlotte stole the show as the royals celebrated Christmas by hugging wellwishers and charming the crowds. The 10-year-old, who wowed viewers of her mum the Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol concert on ITV last night by playing the piano, joined her parents, siblings and wider family including the King and Queen for the annual Christmas Day church service in Sandringham this morning.
Walking alongside her mum Kate, Charlotte wore a grown up light brown coat with dark brown trim along with her now signature bow in her hair. After enjoying the traditional church service, Charlotte as well as her brothers Prince George and Prince Louis, then greeted the crowds who had turned out to greet them, with the trio receiving a handful of gifts.
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Before greeting the crowds, the young princess could be seen chatting with Mike and Zara Tindall’s daughters Mia and Lena. After Charlotte, who resembled the late Queen Elizabeth, could be seen laden with flowers and gifts while future King George clutched a soft toy as did his younger brother Louis. And in one adorable moment, Charlotte gave one royal fan in a wheelchair a hug reaching down to embrace the woman who was wrapped in a blanket to keep warm.
The Wales family Christmas Day celebrations come after Kate and Princess Charlotte’s pre-recorded Christmas piano duet aired last night. The mother and daughter sat together to play a piece they know well by Scottish composer Erland Cooper, for Kate’s Christmas carol concert.
Kate and Charlotte’s piano performance was for the Together at Christmas concert, held at Westminster Abbey on December 5, and was pre-recorded last week so did not feature at the live event – but it was aired as part of the ITV1 screening of the service on Christmas Eve.
The Waleses are spending the festive season together, but will visit the Norfolk royal residence on Christmas Day. The family-of-five experienced a major change just a few weeks ago when they moved into their eight-bedroom “forever home”, Forest Lodge in Windsor Great Park.
The change is seen as a fresh start for the Waleses after Kate’s recovery from cancer, which she announced at the start of 2025, following what William branded a “brutal” 2024.
The royal family usually walk to church on Christmas morning and enjoy a traditional turkey roast with all the trimmings, before sitting down to watch the King’s Christmas broadcast on television. Last year, Charles used his Christmas address to pay tribute to the “selfless” doctors and nurses who provided “strength, care and comfort” during cancer treatment for him and the Princess of Wales.
This year, he is expected to pay tribute to Britain’s war veterans in his Christmas message, as he reflects on the heroics of those who served in the Second World War. Marking the end of the year that commemorated the 80th anniversary of VE Day and VJ Day, it is anticipated that the monarch will once again herald the actions of our greatest generation.
For the second time in his reign, Charles has chosen to record his Christmas speech away from Buckingham Palace, in an effort to present a community feel, royal sources said.
This year, the King decided to film the message at Westminster Abbey, the spiritual home of the royal family for more than 1,000 years. Since 1066, almost every English and later British monarch has been crowned at Westminster Abbey. It is also the site where the Prince and Princess of Wales were married in 2011, and where the Princess has for the past five years hosted her Together At Christmas carol concert, celebrating hundreds of community heroes for their efforts.
