The King, Queen, William and Kate attend the Christmas service

The King and Queen attended a Christmas service at Sandringham, with the Prince and Princess of Wales and other royals at their side.

Enthusiastic crowds watched as the monarch and his family entered St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk. A woman who was previously diagnosed with ovarian cancer told the BBC she could wish the King and Catherine well after her own cancer diagnosis.

Last week it was announced that Prince Andrew would not attend the annual gathering after a suspected Chinese spy was found to have ties to the royal family.

The service took place a few hours before the King’s Christmas message was broadcast – it will be delivered in a former hospital chapel.

The King, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales, were joined by the Prince and Princess’ three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The Princess Royal, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children Lady Louise Windsor and the Earl of Wessex also took part in the walking group.

The Royals were welcomed at the foot of the church steps by the Reverend Canon Dr. Paul Rhys Williams welcomes. Inside, the national anthem was sung before the first hymn, “O Come, All Believers.”

The Christmas morning service is a major event in the royal calendar, bringing together the royal family for a public appearance with crowds and photographers capturing the moment.

The royals then spend Christmas at their Sandringham estate, which has been the family’s usual seasonal meeting place since 1988.

Shelly, from Shrewsbury in Shropshire, said she joined the crowd for the first time this year to support the King and Catherine.

At the beginning of the year, the two announced their cancer diagnoses just weeks after each other – the king in February And the princess the following month.

“I spent Christmas alone and wanted to turn a negative into a positive and really wanted to be here for Catherine and Charles because of the journey they’ve had,” Shelly told the BBC.

“She (Catherine) has had a really tough year and I just want to give her my support.”

Also in the crowd was Diane, from Oldham, who shook hands with the King, Prince William and Catherine, as well as her youngest son Prince Louis.

She told the BBC that as an ovarian cancer survivor, speaking to the royals meant a lot to her.

Diane said she could wish the King and Catherine good health in the New Year and that she had written to Catherine about cancer on several occasions and received “nice responses”.

“People don’t know how cancer affects the family, so I wanted to be here to see the whole family and see them celebrate Christmas.”

While Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah, the Duchess of York, did not attend the service, their daughter Princess Beatrice – accompanied by her husband, real estate tycoon Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and his son Christopher Woolf from a previous marriage – attended.

Prince Andrew’s absence has been confirmed after Yang Tengbo, also known as Chris Yang, was named as a suspected Chinese spy who had been banned from entering the UK.

The man who was reportedly involved in an operation to approach influential figures was described as such by judges at the Special Immigration Appeals Commission court an “unusual level of trust” in the prince.

Prince Andrew’s office said nothing sensitive was ever discussed with Mr Yang.

Since apologizing for his links to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, the prince has rarely been seen in public and no longer takes part in front-line royal duties.

Later on Christmas Day, that The monarch’s traditional speech was broadcast on television and radio as usual.

It was recorded earlier this month at the Fitzrovia Chapel in central Londonand it is the first time in more than a decade that the Christmas message has been recorded at a location other than a royal palace or estate.

Fitzrovia was once the chapel of Middlesex Hospital.

The venue suggests health care and supportive community connections could be topics for the annual speech.

In September, Kensington Palace released a video of Catherine making the announcement has completed her chemotherapyand spread the message that “out of darkness, light can emerge.”

She recently made her biggest return to royal duties after finishing chemotherapy Hosting a Christmas service at Westminster Abbey. The event was dedicated to individuals who have shown love, kindness and empathy to their communities.

In the meantime, the royal’s regular treatment sessions will continue, but in a sign of the positive response, he has plans for a busy schedule of appointments and trips abroad in 2025.