England’s royal family has many Christmas traditions, and one of the most cherished is their annual walk from their Christmas celebrations at Sandringham House in Norfolk to the nearby St. Mary Magdalene Church for the Christmas morning service.
Following church, the royals return to the estate for a traditional Christmas lunch of roast turkey, potatoes, stuffing, cranberry, bread sauces and Christmas pudding, then tune in to the king’s annual televised address.
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth in September 2022, King Charles is “keen to maintain many of his late mother’s traditions,” Caroline Perry, the author of The Corgi and the Queen, exclusively told PEOPLE.
Look back at some of the most memorable snapshots from this year and years past, with all the great coats, fancy hats and happy family moments that entails.
2024
After what Prince William described as a “brutal” 2024, with his wife Kate Middleton and father King Charles both being treated for cancer, the whole family returned for their annual walk, during which Kate connected with children (bringing home a drawing of Princess Charlotte) and fellow cancer patients.
One well-wisher, who got a hug from the Princess of Wales after disclosing her own condition, told The Sun, “You get a camaraderie with other cancer victims. Unless you’ve been on that journey you can’t understand what it’s like.”
2023
Kate Middleton and Prince William escort Princess Charlotte, Prince George, Prince Louis and the kids’ cousin Mia Tindall to their annual Christmas morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church. Notably, Louis wore tartan pants for the first time, a departure from his usual knee socks and shorts.
2022
For the first walk in decades without Queen Elizabeth, who had died in September of that year, the new King Charles and Queen Camilla were accompanied by their whole family, including all of the Cambridges’ children (Charlotte, Louis and George), plus Beatrice and Eugenie and Kate and William.
1998
The two teenage princes (with dad Prince Charles) had many admirers on their Christmas day walk.
1988
It was a year of big shoulders (for Sarah, Duchess of York, and Princess Diana), lots of cousins (Peter and Zara Phillips and Prince William, and Princess Beatrice were all present) and serious accessories (incredible hats all around, including on the Queen Mother and Princess Margaret, as well as Zara’s teddy bear necklace).
1985
It was red, white and snowy all over for Princess Diana, Princess Anne and her daughter Zara Phillips.
1969
Prince Charles lends an arm to his grandmother, the Queen Mother; behind them walks Prince Philip, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne and Prince Andrew.
1997
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie (with dad Prince Andrew) showed an early fondness for major hats.
1990
Princess Diana and Sarah, Duchess of York (with Princes Harry and William) were sure to turn heads with their headwear.
1990
Princess Diana stole the show in two-tone houndstooth with a matching hat, but Prince William and Prince Phillip looked reliably sharp as well.
2002
Eugenie continues to display her penchant for high-key headgear.
2019
Prince Edward, Sophie Wessex and their children, James, Viscount Severn and Lady Louise Windsor, stroll after the service.
2019
Prince George shares thoughts with his grandfather Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.
1991
The Queen Mother and Princess Diana (seen greeting locals with Prince Harry and Prince William) clearly got the memo that it would be a blue Christmas.
1994
Diana and William walk in step.
1992
Princess Margaret and Queen Elizabeth share a moment after the service. (See more vintage photos from their childhood Christmases here.)
1990
Princess Anne and Prince William brave the wind in smart printed outerwear.
2011
The year Kate and William married also marked her debut at the Sandringham festivities (alongside Prince Charles, Camilla and Prince Harry).
2010
The Queen (pictured with other members of her family, including her husband, son and several grandchildren) often opts for bright coats to make her easier to spot in a crowd, but this year, there was no missing that hat and cuffs.
2014
Another Kate coat worth remembering.
2019
Charlotte joined her mom to speak to locals along the route.
2015
Kate and William accepted flowers from well-wishers.
2008
The brothers were both trying some new hair looks that year.
2022
Kate takes a quiet moment to connect with her three children, Charlotte, George and Louis.
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