King Charles III led Britain’s royal family to a Christmas morning church service for the first time as monarch on Sunday.
The king, 74, looked relaxed as he walked along the gravel path towards the church his late mother so often frequented during her trips to Norfolk.
He was joined by Queen Consort Camilla as they made their way towards St Mary Magdalene Church near Sandringham House.
The queen consort, 75, beamed as she waved to the crowds of well-wishers outside the church. Young and old, some in wheelchairs, had lined the route early on Sunday in the hope of catching a glimpse of the royals.
Later on Sunday, millions will watch the king’s first Christmas Day message.
Prince Louis, four, made his first Christmas Day appearance alongside his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and siblings Prince George, nine, and Princess Charlotte, seven.
Prince Harry and Meghan, who quit royal duties in 2020, are understood to be celebrating Christmas at their home in California. The couple’s recent Netflix series, which included accusations of the royals' lying and bullying them, dashed hopes of a reconciliation between the family.
Prince William and his wife Kate were closely followed into the church by Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and her stepson Wolfie.
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank trailed them.
Prince Andrew, who stepped back from royal duties in 2019 following a disastrous TV interview in relation to allegations of sexual assault he faced as well as his close friendship with Jeffery Epstein, walked near his daughters. He has not been seen in public since the queen's funeral in September.
Prince Edward, his wife Sophie Countess of Wessex and their children Lady Louise and James Viscount Severn were also among the royal entourage.
Peter Phillips, the only son of Princess Anne, attended the service with his daughters Savannah and Isla. His ex-wife Autumn Phillips, whom he separated from in 2019, was not present.
Zara Tindall was accompanied by her husband Mike Tindall and their daughters Mia and Lena. Their toddler son Lucas was not present.
It is not custom for royals to speak to members of the public before the church service. However, members of the monarchy sometimes stop to chat with well-wishers after the ceremony.
This year’s gathering at Sandringham is the first time the royal family have spent Christmas at the private royal residence in Norfolk since 2019.
The late queen had spent the festive period at Windsor Castle for two years in a row, in 2020 and 2021, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, before her death in September this year.
Traditionally, royal Christmases at Sandringham feature a turkey lunch at the house before the family settle down to watch TV.
Queen Elizabeth II was fond of hosting traditional festive celebrations at the country estate, having held 32 Christmases at Sandringham House with morning church services a central part of them.
King Charles III in 2022 - in pictures
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King Charles III at a Jewish community centre in London ahead of Hanukkah celebrations. AP -
The centre is open to all faiths and is a hub for arts, culture, social action and learning in North London. Reuters -
The king and Dean of Westminster David Hoyle at the 'Together at Christmas' service at Westminster Abbey in London. PA -
Front row left to right, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla, Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Kate, Princess of Wales and Sophie, Countess of Wessex during the service. PA -
The monarch inspects a chicken during a tour of a community kitchen in Harrow, Greater London. Getty -
Another part of the kitchen tour. Getty -
The king visits Westminster Hall to unveil a plaque marking the place of the lying-in-state of Queen Elizabeth II. PA -
AstraZeneca chief executive Pascal Soriot, is knighted at Windsor Castle. PA -
King Charles meets guide dog Bobby at Royal National College for the Blind in Hereford. AP -
The king and queen consort's Christmas card. Getty -
King Charles at St Giles' Church in Wrexham at a celebration to mark the town becoming a city. AFP -
The king and queen consort talk to Wrexham football club owners Ryan Reynolds, left, and Rob McElhenney, right. Getty -
The monarch at the 40th anniversary celebration of Business in the Community at Central Hall Westminster in London. Reuters -
The king at a diplomatic corps reception at Buckingham Palace. Getty -
King Charles makes the traditional namaste gesture on a visit to the Guru Nanak Gurdwara in Luton. AFP -
The king at an event on the new cable transit system that will connect Luton rail station to Luton Airport. PA -
The king meets schoolchildren in Luton. AFP -
The monarch visits the Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Holy Family in Exile in London. AFP -
King Charles is presented with a maquette of Queen Elizabeth by South Australia Governor Frances Adamson and other Australian officials at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The monarch meets Spain's King Felipe VI at Clarence House in London. AFP -
An audience with Jordan's King Abdullah II at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The king and queen consort are shown a scaled replica of a statue of Queen Elizabeth on a visit to York Minster. AFP -
The king and queen consort formally mark the conferral of city status on Dunfermline in Scotland. AFP -
The king with Prince William and his wife Kate at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance at the Royal Albert Hall in London. AFP -
Laying a wreath at the Cenotaph on Remembrance Sunday in central London. AFP -
The monarch with David Attenborough during a lunch at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The monarch on a visit to Aberdeen. AFP -
Visiting St Bartholomew's Hospital in east London. AFP -
Arriving to reopen the refurbished Burrell Collection museum at Pollok Country Park in Glasgow. AFP -
With trainees during a visit to the Goldsmiths' Centre charity in London. AFP -
Plants a lime tree at Buckingham Palace garden ahead of Cop27. AFP -
With British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, fashion designer Stella McCartney and US climate envoy John Kerry at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
The Princess of Wales, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the queen consort listen to the king during a banquet at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Meeting Kuwait's UK ambassador Bader Al Awadi at Buckingham Palace. AFP -
Greeting Mr Sunak at Buckingham Palace on his appointment as Prime Minister. AFP -
King Charles walks behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth during a procession from Buckingham Palace to the Palace of Westminster. AFP -
The king greets then-prime minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace. AFP
