Queen Elizabeth II, 94, and Prince Philip, 99, usually celebrate Christmas surrounded by family at Sandringham House. The royal couple have eight grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren including Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, and Prince Louis, two.
Kate, Duchess of Cambridge, 38, and Prince William, 38, usually spend the Christmas holidays up the road from the Queen and Prince Philip’s Sandringham House at their country home Anmer Hall.
Last year the Cambridges were with the Queen and Philip on Christmas Day and royal fans were delighted to see George and Charlotte join their parents for the first time for the Christmas Day church service in King’s Lynn.
However, the special outing is among a number of royal Christmas traditions to get the axe this year.
On Tuesday it was confirmed the Queen and Philip will remain at Windsor Castle for Christmas for the first time in more than three decades.
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Prince Andrew lives at the Royal Lodge in Great Windsor Park and is expected to mark Christmas there with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson and their two daughters Princess Beatrice, 32, and Princess Eugenie, 30.
Princess Eugenie is currently expecting her first child with husband Jack Brooksbank and Beatrice is marking her first Christmas since her marriage to Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.
Given their proximity to Windsor Castle, the York Family could also meet the Queen and Philip for a Christmas walk.
Last year Prince Andrew skipped the main church service with the rest of Royal Family having withdrawn from public life just weeks before.
Confirming the Queen and Prince Philip’s plans, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Having considered all the appropriate advice, The Queen and The Duke of Edinburgh have decided that this year they will spend Christmas quietly in Windsor.”
Royal aides confirmed the Queen and the Duke understand their family will have “competing demands” over Christmas.
From December 23 to 27 a relaxation of COVID-19 restrictions across the UK will allow up to three households to meet.
According to royal insiders as the Queen, like everyone else, will be limited to hosting just two households, she is “content to have a quiet festive season” hoping to return to normal in 2021.
