King Charles III has made a public appearance, greeting members of the public after attending a Sunday morning church service at his Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
A Sunday Morning at St Mary Magdalene
The monarch, dressed in a brown full-length coat and grey suit, was seen smiling and waving to a small crowd gathered outside St Mary Magdalene Church on Sunday, December 28. This marked his second public outing to the church on the Norfolk estate in a matter of days, following the traditional Christmas Day service.
He was not alone for the December 28 service. The King was joined by his nephew, Peter Phillips—the son of the Princess Royal—and Phillips's fiancée, Harriet Sperling. Also in attendance were the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Contrast with the Festive Christmas Day Gathering
The Sunday service followed a larger and more festive royal gathering at the same church just three days prior. On Christmas Day, the King was accompanied by the Queen, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and their children.
After that service, Charles, Camilla, William, Kate, and the young royals spent time chatting with crowds lining the route back to Sandringham House. Many well-wishers were dressed in festive gear, including Santa hats and reindeer antlers. Notably, the Princess of Wales engaged with dozens of people for nearly 20 minutes after most of the family had returned indoors, receiving armfuls of flowers which were later carried by police officers.
The Christmas Day congregation also included the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, Zara and Mike Tindall with their daughters, and the Edinburghs with their children. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also attended with their respective husbands, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Jack Brooksbank.
Notable Absences and Family Dynamics
The Duke of York, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, was absent from both services. The disgraced royal, whose association with the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein led to his downfall, was stripped of his military titles and royal patronages by his brother, the King, earlier in the year.
His daughters, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie, however, were present on Christmas Day, choosing to spend the festive period with the King and wider royal family rather than with their father.
The King's appearances at Sandringham represent a continuation of royal tradition and a chance for the public to see the monarch in a relaxed setting, following a period of significant change within the Royal Family.
