Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall led the way as the family arrived for a second, more public service at the church on the Sandringham Estate
Dozens of royals attended a church service at the Sandringham Estate today - a cornerstone of the family's Christmas celebrations - however the Queen herself was notably absent as she continues to recover from a heavy cold.
Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince Harry, the Earl of Wessex and Prince Andrew joined other royals as they made their way from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church where they enjoyed two Christmas services.
As supreme Governor of the Church of England, the Queen's faith is incredibly important to her - and this is the first time in nearly 30 years the 90-year-old Monarch has missed the service, which she and her husband Prince Philip, 95, have attended every year since 1988.
It is thought the Queen has not missed a Christmas Day service at either Sandringham or Windsor Castle - the previous location for the monarch's festive break - in living memory.
This comes amid a tumultuous week for the royals, which has seen the Queen and her husband the Duke of Edinburgh struck down with illness and the tragic news her granddaughter Zara Tindall had lost her unborn baby.
Prince Harry delighted this lady - who is 93 and a half, and had been waiting for hours - as he stopped and took the time to wish her a Merry Christmas''
Despite feeling under the weather, the Duke of Edinburgh was in high spirits as he left the church with Prince Harry an'
The service at Sandringham is one of the highlights in the Royal calendar, in which members of the family spend quality time with one another.
However this is the first time in some 28 years the Queen has not attended.
A spokesman for Kensington Palace said today: 'Her Majesty The Queen will not attend Church at Sandringham this morning.
'The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery.
'Her Majesty will participate in the Royal Family Christmas celebrations during the day.'
There was an outpouring of grief yesterday following news the Queen's granddaughter Zara Tindall and her 38-year-old husband lost their unborn baby, just weeks after revealing they were expecting their second child.
The pair had been expected to spend Christmas at Sandringham but were not seen today.
And in a break from tradition, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have this year chosen to spend the holidays with Kate's parents, Michael and Carol Middleton, at their home in the village of Bucklebury, Berkshire, some 170 miles away.
It came as a surprise to many that, in this special year the Queen reached her magnificent 90-year milestone and Prince Philip turned 95, two of their great-grandchildren Prince George, aged three, and Princess Charlotte, 18 months, will not be with them.
Prince Harry, meanwhile, is at the estate alone as his girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle, 35, spends the festive season with her family in Toronto.
Although Miss Markle was not invited the Queen is said to be 'fully supportive' of her grandson's relationship with the actress.
Senior members of the family have joined the Queen at Sandringham and they will all be sitting down promptly at 1.15pm in the green-walled dining room hung with Spanish tapestries and rising after just over an hour to be in good time to watch her annual message on TV to the Commonwealth at 3pm.
In her Christmas speech broadcast later on today, the Queen will praise the 'inspirational' Team GB athletes in her Christmas Day address, as well as the achievements of 'ordinary people doing extraordinary things'.
From left, Savannah Phillips, Autumn Phillips, Prince Harry, Prince Charles, Princess Eugenie and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall'
Prince Harry was all smiles - despite his girlfriend, American actress Meghan Markle spending the holidays in Toronto'
The Duke of Edinburgh - who has been suffering with a heavy cold all this week - took his coat off before entering the church' BLESS HIM, LEO HAYUPO NA MKE WAKE THE QUEEN 'Yeye bado homa imembana'' UPENE HARAKA BIBI YETU''
Little Isla Phillips, four, holds hands with her grandmother Anne, Princess Royal, and her father, Peter Phillips''
Prince Harry stood outside the church with his father, Prince Charles after attending the traditional Christmas morning church service near the Sandringham estate in rural Norfolk
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| MITOKO YA KIMALIKIA' Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall wore a long blue royal blue coat with black accessories' |
Princess Eugenie wore a red felt cocktail hat by Sarah Cant and a black clutch bag by new London handbag designer Stacy Chan'
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Eugenie and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall'
Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex greeted crowds with 13-year-old Lady Louise Windsor who looked smart and elegant in her nude ballet pumps, grey marl coat and pale blue dress with matching silver clutch bag'
Princess Beatrice (left) teamed her military-style coat, cinched in at the waist with a thick black belt, with vertiginous platform heels and a gingham headband complete with red rose. Her sister Princess Eugenie (right) opted for black court shoes, a grey marl coat, black leather gloves, a red felt cocktail hat by Sarah Cant and a black clutch bag by London designer Stacy Chan'
Autumn Phillips - the wife of Peter Phillips, the oldest grandchild of Queen, with her daughter Savannah
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and the Prince of Wales - who could be seen leaning on his umbrella outside the church'
TUMECHOTA NA KUMIMINA KUTOKA DM'
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