Prince William and Princess Kate unexpectedly missed the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace at this time.

The Royal couple, together with their three kids, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis, have been anticipated to affix the annual festivities.

Nevertheless, shortly earlier than the occasion was as a consequence of begin, it was introduced that the household wouldn’t be in attendance. A palace insider revealed that the household is already in Norfolk as deliberate, eagerly awaiting Christmas celebrations with the remainder of the royals at Sandringham.

Amid the continuing drama surrounding his ties with alleged Chinese language spy Yang Tengbo, Prince Andrew was additionally notably absent, however his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie did attend.

After the kids damaged up for his or her Christmas holidays from Lambrook on 13 December, it is believed the Prince and Princess of Wales and household instantly headed to Anmer Corridor, their beloved nation retreat on the Sandringham property in Norfolk.

But, their absence from the Buckingham Palace lunch has however sparked hypothesis, notably as Wiliam, as the long run King, usually attends such important Royal occasions, a convention he has upheld for a few years.

A supply from Kensington Palace insisted to the Telegraph: “The choice to not attend the lunch was made a while in the past.”

This resulted within the King being with out both of his sons on the Palace – though the Waleses are set to have fun Christmas with Charles and Queen Camilla subsequent week, in keeping with the Mirror.

Some speculated that the couple’s absence was tied to Prince Andrew and the controversy surrounding his relationship with an alleged spy.

Nevertheless, insiders have been fast to dismiss this, stating that Andrew had already chosen to skip the occasion.

Regardless of lacking at this time’s gathering, the Waleses unveiled their Christmas card this afternoon, that includes an enthralling household photograph.

The picture was taken from a video shared by Kate in September when she introduced the tip of her chemotherapy remedy and her dedication to “doing what I can to remain cancer-free”. Within the image, William and Kate are seen embracing their kids Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Princess Louis.

Within the video, the princess shared a heartfelt message about her most cancers journey, accompanied by photos of the Waleses and their kids having fun with the Norfolk countryside, strolling via woods and sharing a cuddle whereas holding palms.

She described the yr as much as that time as “extremely robust for us as a household” and spoke of how the “most cancers journey is complicated, scary and unpredictable for everybody”, including that the expertise has given her a “new perspective on the whole lot”.

The cardboard carries the message, “wishing you a really Joyful Christmas and New Yr”.

This comes as King Charles, who has hosted the pre-Christmas celebration at Windsor Fort for the previous two years, has moved the occasion again to Buckingham Palace at this time, the place the late Queen practically at all times held the lunch.

Earlier, the King was noticed getting into the palace forward of the celebration to make remaining preparations for his company. He was adopted by the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, Edward and Sophie.

As beforehand reported, Prince Andrew is not going to be attending the occasion. The embattled Royal is not going to be a part of the celebration because of the ongoing controversy over his relationship with alleged Chinese language spy Yang Tengbo.

Nevertheless, his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have been each current. A pregnant Beatrice was seen within the passenger seat whereas her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi drove them to the celebration, and Eugenie was additionally noticed in a automotive along with her husband Jack Brooksbank.

Among the many attendees have been Lord Frederick Windsor, his spouse Sophie Winkleman and their daughter Isabella; the Duke of Kent; Prince and Princess Michael of Kent; the Earl of St Andrews; Girl Marina Windsor and Girl Amelia Windsor; Timothy Taylor, Girl Helen Taylor, Estella and Eloise Taylor; Girl Margarita Armstrong-Jones; and Lord Downpatrick. They have been joined by Countess Mountbatten of Burma Penelope Knatchbull; James and Julia Ogilvy; Samuel Chatto; the Earl of Ulster and Lord Culloden; Flora and Timothy Vesterberg; Princess Alexandra; and Girl Davina Windsor.

Andrew has chosen to keep away from this yr’s celebrations as a consequence of his current drama. It’s believed that it was his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson who suggested him to take care of a low profile and chorus from attending the Palace celebration.

Furthermore, the previous couple have determined to remain at their dwelling in Royal Lodge on Christmas Day, fairly than journeying to Sandringham with the remainder of the household, to forestall additional embarrassment to the King.

This Christmas can be notably poignant for the Royal household, marking the tip of a extremely difficult yr following Kate’s most cancers analysis and subsequent chemotherapy remedy, in addition to the King’s personal ongoing most cancers remedy.