Unlike in 2011, there was no snow on the ground, but it had been raining and several royals carried umbrellas. The BBC reported that a crowd of around 1,000 well-wishers gathered early outside the church for their annual parade of royals, which this year did not include the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge; they are spending one final Christmas Day at the Middleton home before the Middletons move to a larger house.
Royals who walked to church Christmas morning included Prince Philip; Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall; Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Tim Laurence; Zara Phillips and Mike Tindall; Peter and Autumn Phillips; and Prince Andrew. The only young royal present, alongside her parents the Earl and Countess of Wessex, was Lady Louise Windsor, who looked sweet in a pink coat, white leggings and black buckled shoes.
Princess Eugenie, wearing a stylish gray coat and high-heeled black boots, acted as lady-in-waiting to the Queen after the Sandringham Christmas service, which was broadcast to the waiting public. The princess collected flowers and even a teddy bear handed to the monarch by local children — up to 50, according to Sky News, which also noted the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge had attended church services at St. Mark's Church in Englefield, Berkshire.
The Queen wore a bright turquoise outfit with unusual zig-zag buttoning and a matching hat to go with her warm smile. A black scarf and gloves her only concession to the cold — the Queen also wore nylons, no protection against cold, and black shoes.
