Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis join Prince William, Kate for Christmas service

The royal family has returned to its Christmas tradition after two years.

December 25, 2022, 9:13 AM

After two years off due to COVID-19, the British royal family returned this year with its traditional Christmas morning service at Sandringham Estate.

Joining the tradition this year were Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, the children of Prince William and Kate, the Prince and Princess of Wales.

PHOTO: Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, along with their children, leave the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, December 25, 2022.
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church, December 25, 2022.
Toby Melville/Reuters

Also in attendance were King Charles III, George and Charlotte's grandfather, and Queen Camilla.

PHOTO: Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church, December 25, 2022.
Britain's King Charles, Queen Camilla, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church, December 25, 2022.
Toby Melville/Reuters

The last time the royal family stepped out for Christmas service at Sandringham was in 2019 with the late Queen Elizabeth II. This year marks the family's first Christmas without her and the first Christmas for Charles as the sovereign. It's also the first Christmas for William and Kate since taking on the titles of Prince and Princess of Wales.

While Elizabeth canceled Christmas service last year at Sandringham, Charles and Camilla attended Christmas mass in Windsor.

PHOTO: Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, along with their children, leave the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, December 25, 2022.
Britain's Prince William, Prince of Wales, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis attend the Royal Family's Christmas Day service at St. Mary Magdalene's church, December 25, 2022.
Toby Melville/Reuters
PHOTO: Britain's Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales react as they leave at the end of the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, December 25, 2022.
Britain's Prince Louis of Wales and Princess Charlotte of Wales react as they leave at the end of the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, December 25, 2022.
Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images

In the past, after Christmas service, the family would walk back to Sandringham, the queen's estate in Norfolk, England, where they would have Christmas lunch and watch the queen deliver her annual Christmas message.

Then, in the evening, the family would usually get together for a Christmas dinner.

On Christmas Eve, the family typically holds its gift exchange, following the German tradition. The gifts are usually funny or homemade.

Earlier this month, Prince William and Kate shared their family's Christmas card, which featured all of them in a casual photo taken in Norfolk, where they have a country home, Anmer Hall. Last week, the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, George and Charlotte, also stepped out for Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey.

Absent from this year's Christmas tradition was Prince William's brother, Prince Harry, and Harry's wife, Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

PHOTO: Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, along with their children, leave the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, December 25, 2022.
Britain's Princess Charlotte of Wales, Prince George of Wales, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales leave at the end of the Royal Family's traditional Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, December 25, 2022.
Daniel Leal/AFP via Getty Images

Two weeks ago, that couple released the final three episodes of their six-part docuseries, "Harry & Meghan," which focused on their decision to step down from their senior royal roles in 2020, with Harry alleging "institutional gaslighting" and Meghan saying she was "being fed to the wolves," with stories about her being fed to the press on purpose.

Members of the royal family have not commented on Harry and Meghan's docuseries and Buckingham Palace said it had no comment on the final three episodes.

Harry and Meghan currently live in California with their two young children, Archie and Lillibet.

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