Queen Elizabeth, Meghan Markle arrive at Christmas service

The actress smiled and gave a brief wave on her way into the church in her first public appearance with the queen

From left, Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince William, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry and Prince Philip arrive to the traditional Christmas Days service, at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, England. Alastair Grant / AP photo

Britain's Queen Elizabeth and Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, right, lead out other members of the family with Reverend Canon Jonathan Riviere, left, as they leave after attending the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service. Adrian Dennis / AFP photo

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Andrew attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene in King's Lynn, England. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex and Princess Anne, Princess Royal attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Princess Beatrice and Sophie, Countess of Wessex attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Prince Andrew, Duke of York attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Sophie, Countess of Wessex attends Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Britain's Prince Harry arrive to attend the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church. Adrian Dennis / AFP

Britain's Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Britain's Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and actress Meghan Markle arrive to attend the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day church service. Adrian Dennis / AFP

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

Meghan Markle and Britain's Prince Harry arrive at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Adrian Dennis / AFP

From left: Prince William, Duke of Cambridge, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service. Chris Jackson / Getty Images

KING'S LYNN, ENGLAND - DECEMBER 25: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Christmas Day Church service at Church of St Mary Magdalene on December 25, 2017 in King's Lynn, England. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Queen Elizabeth and senior members of the royal family — along with newcomer Meghan Markle, Prince Harry's fiancée — arrived at a Christmas church service on Monday as a crowd of local residents gathered.

Markle smiled and gave a brief wave on her way into the church in her first public appearance with the queen. Many well-wishers carried flowers to give to the royals after the service.

The queen was joined by her husband, Prince Philip, and close family members including grandson Prince William and his wife, Kate, who is expected to give birth to the couple's third child in the spring.

Elizabeth planned to use her annual Christmas message to pay tribute to the way the cities of London and Manchester pulled together after extremist attacks earlier this year.

Remarks pre-recorded by the 91-year-old monarch will be televised later on Christmas Day in the United Kingdom and the 51 other Commonwealth countries.

Excerpts released by Buckingham Palace indicate Elizabeth praises Manchester, hit by a suicide bomber in May, and London, which endured attacks on Parliament, London Bridge and other landmarks.

"This Christmas, I think of London and Manchester, whose powerful identities shone through over the past 12 months in the face of appalling attacks," she says.

The queen says it was her privilege to visit young survivors of the attack on a Manchester concert hall as they were recovering from the blast which claimed 22 lives.

"I describe that hospital visit as a 'privilege' because the patients I met were an example to us all, showing extraordinary bravery and resilience," she says.

Elizabeth also pays tribute to her 96-year-old husband, who this year stepped down from most public duties because of his advancing years. She praises him for his "support and unique sense of humour."

The queen and Philip are spending the holidays at Elizabeth's country estate in Sandringham, 110 miles (175 kilometres) north of London.

The royal family has a private lunch scheduled after the church service. They traditionally exchange gifts on Christmas Eve.

This is the first Christmas the family will be joined by Markle. She and Prince Harry plan to marry at Windsor Castle in May.

Elizabeth says in her brief broadcast that the royal family looks forward "to welcoming new members into it next year."

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