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King’s Speech live – Charles gives Christmas message after joining Kate and William at Sandringham

Charles offers message of hope in second festive broadcast of reign recorded at Buckingham Palace

Maira Butt,Tara Cobham,Andy Gregory
Tuesday 26 December 2023 08:01 GMT
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The royal family in 2023: The year’s major stories

The King has delivered his Christmas message after joining other members of the royal family at Sandringham to celebrate Christmas Day.

The festive address – the second of Charles’s reign since the death of his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022 – was delivered at 3pm on Monday in Buckingham Palace’s Centre Room, which opens onto the famous balcony overlooking The Mall and was decorated with a living Christmas tree that will be replanted.

The King called on people to protect each other, delivered a powerful message about the environment and praised volunteers serving communities across the country.

Earlier, Charles and Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church.

It comes after the King and Queen waved to well-wishers while attending a Christmas Eve service at the church on Sunday.

Royal Christmases traditionally feature the greeting of people outside the church, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

Sandringham House has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs for more than 160 years, and now belongs to the King.

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King Charles meets crowds after church service

King Charles III meets well-wishers after attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk.

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 13:10
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Princess of Wales meets well-wishers after attending church service

The royal family met with crowds of residents who gathered to meet the royals outside St Magdalene Church in Sandringham.

Princess Kate was seen gathering bouquets of flowers and speaking with well-wishers.

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:46
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Disgraced Prince Andrew also in attendance at church with family

For the second year in succession the disgraced Duke of York walked from Sandringham to church with the family.

Andrew’s alleged links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein will come under further scrutiny in the new year with the release of hundreds of files from a defamation case, after a ruling by a US judge.

His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York appeared in public at Sandringham for the first time in years, walking beside her ex-husband and smiling broadly at the press.

Andrew’s daughters were with their husbands, Princess Beatrice with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Prince Eugenie with Jack Brooksbank.

(AFP via Getty Images)
(AFP via Getty Images)

Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:40
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King Charles and Queen Camilla lead exit from church after Christmas morning service

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:23
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Sarah Ferguson appears to gather gifts from well-wishers

Over a thousand local residents attended the Christmas day church service at St Magdalene church in Sandringham in Norfolk.

Some travelled all the way from the US while others brought gifts for Sarah Ferguson. The royal was pictured with gift bags and bouquets of flowers as she left the church.

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:20
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Royal family attend Christmas Day service at Sandringham

The royal family marked Christmas Day by attending the traditional festive church service on the King’s Sandringham estate.

Royal fans gathered as the Prince and Princess of Wales walked hand in hand with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis from Sandringham house on their way to St Mary Magdalene Church.

They walked behind the King and Queen, who were greeted by about a thousand local residents, many of whom had waited hours on Christmas morning to catch a glimpse of the family.

For the second year in succession the disgraced Duke of York walked from Sandringham to church with the family.

His ex-wife, Sarah, Duchess of York appeared in public at Sandringham for the first time in years, walking beside her ex-husband and smiling broadly at the press.

Andrew’s daughters were with their husbands, Princess Beatrice with Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Prince Eugenie with Jack Brooksbank.

Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:13
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Prince William and Princess Kate leave church service with children

Prince William and his family were seen leaving a church service at St Magdalene church on Christmas day. He was joined by Princess Kate and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

(Samir Hussein/WireImage)
(Samir Hussein/WireImage)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:09
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Princess Eugenie and Beatrice among royals departing Christmas church service

ack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk
ack Brooksbank and Princess Eugenie attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson were also seen departing
Princess Beatrice and Sarah Ferguson were also seen departing (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:05
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Lady Armstrong-Jones joins royals at church service

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones joined the Earl of Snowdon in attending the morning mass on Christmas day in Sandringham.

Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones and the Earl of Snowdon attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk
Lady Margarita Armstrong-Jones and the Earl of Snowdon attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk (Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
(PA)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 12:03
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Protestor carrying Palestinian flag seen talking to police

A protestor who attended the Christmas church service at Sandringham was seen talking to the police today.

The man was seen carrying a placard alongside a Palestinian flag and appeared to be alone.

(Joe Giddens/PA Wire)
Maira Butt25 December 2023 11:59

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