Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor attend the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham while William, Kate and other royals stay away for fear of attracting large crowds
- The couple were joined at church today by their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor
- Family attended St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, which is under Tier 2 restrictions
- This year’s main service that the queen and other members of the royal family normally attend was canceled
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Prince Edward and his wife Sophie Wessex attended a Christmas Day church service in Sandringham this morning.
The couple were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk.
Sandringham in Norfolk falls under level 2 of the coronavirus regulations and you are allowed to meet with other members of your household for services in a house of prayer.
The family drove to church in a Land Rover Discovery at 11:00 AM and attended the morning service with other members of a pre-registered public congregation.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie, Countess of Wessex, (depicted in their face masks) attended a church service this morning on Christmas Day in Sandringham
The couple were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk. The picture shows Sophie in the front of the car
The family drove to church at 11:00 AM in a Land Rover Discovery and attended the morning service with other members of a pre-registered public congregation
The family is believed to be staying in the main Sandringham House building on the Norfolk estate and has been there since last Sunday. Pictured is Lady Louise Windsor in the back of the car
The family is believed to be staying in the main Sandringham House building on the Norfolk estate and has been there since last Sunday.
The main service that the Queen and other members of the royal family normally attend this year was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The family left the service at 11:45 am with Prince Edward and his wife both wearing face masks and returned to Sandringham House.
Buckingham Palace has been contacted for comment.
The family left the service at 11:45 AM with Prince Edward and his wife (pictured) both wearing face masks and returned to Sandringham House
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie and children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor drive to church on Christmas Day
Earlier this week, it was announced that William, Kate and other royals would not attend church in Sandringham on Christmas Day in 32 years due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Norfolk police released a statement on Wednesday confirming that “no members” of the royal family would be in the traditional service of St. Mary Magdalene Church.
William and Kate stayed away, even though they spend the festive break at their country house Anmer Hall, which is only two miles away.
The family drove to church at 11am in a Land Rover Discovery before leaving to head back to Sandringham
The service was held today at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk. Other members of the royal family would normally be in attendance
Prince Edward and Sophie attend last year’s divine service with their children James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor
Police broke the convention to make the announcement to try to persuade members of the public to stay away from the church today.
Thousands of loyal fans normally pack the paddock next to the church to watch the Queen and other members of the royal family attend the 11:00 am service.
But they were advised to stay away this year due to the risk of Covid-19 scattering among crowds gathering to get a glimpse of the Royals.
The statement by the Norfolk police said: ‘Members of the public and media are being informed that there will be no organized royal event in Sandringham this year.
Prince Edward and Sophie, Countess of Wessex, attend the annual Christmas church service for the Royals in Sandringham last year
Norfolk police confirmed earlier this week that no royals would attend the traditional church service in Sandringham this year, breaking a 32-year tradition. Pictured: Prince William and wife Kate, and Prince Harry and wife Meghan arrive at the Sandringham service in 2017
“Members of the royal family will not attend the usual Christmas service.”
In early December, it was revealed that the 94-year-old Queen and Prince Philip, 99, will spend Christmas peacefully at Windsor Castle rather than Sandringham.
The Royal Family has been spending Christmas in Sandringham every year since 1988, when they moved the festivities to Norfolk because Winsor Castle was being rewired.
Normally, the Queen is driven to the service in her maroon Bentley, while other family members walk a quarter of a mile to the church from Sandringham House.
Last year, Prince George and his sister Princess Charlotte mingled with the crowd when they first attended the service in the 18th-century church.