Royal family at Sandringham live: Charles joins William and Kate for church service ahead of King’s Speech

The King’s Speech is set to air at 3pm today and will feature a living Christmas tree as a backdrop for the first time.

To drive home this message, his living Christmas tree will be replanted after the broadcast.

From its branches hang natural and sustainable decorations, including hand-turned wood, dried oranges, glass baubles, pine cones and paper.

Eggs, mushrooms, kipper, grilled kidneys, and bacon are on the menu for the men, while the women munch on “a light breakfast of sliced fruit, half a grapefruit, toast and coffee” independently.

Lunch consists of a typical feast: roast turkey, stuffing, potatoes, cranberry, multiple bread sauces, and Christmas pudding.

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“In your hands is an unmissable opportunity to keep our common hope alive,” he added. “I can only urge you to meet it with ambition, imagination, and a true sense of the emergency we face.”

From its branches hang natural and sustainable decorations, including hand-turned wood, dried oranges, glass baubles, pine cones and paper.

As part of the royal’s Shaping Us campaign it showcased ‘the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives’.

In a video on X, formerly known as Twitter, she said:

“From parents and carers, early educators, midwives, health visitors and community volunteers – thank you for all you do in helping the very youngest mnembers of our communities feel safe, valued and loved.

“This is not not just making a difference to children today, it will go on to shape a happier, healthier, fairer world in the future.”

The service was recorded on 8 December and was made public on Sunday.

The black and white picture taken by Josh Shinner is in the same style of Prince William and Princess Kate’s Christmas card and features their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.

The couple posted it on X with the caption: “Wishing everyone a very Merry Christmas, from our family to yours! W & C”

This Christmas marks the second year the royals will be ringing in the jolly holiday without the late Queen Elizabeth II. Since her passing in September 2022, King Charles III has taken over many beloved traditions once spearheaded by the Queen.

The royal family typically leaves Buckingham Palace just before Christmas and heads to Sandringham House, the late Queen’s country estate in Norfolk.

The former monarch died when he was 56 years old at the royal estate when the Queen was just 25 years old, though she was on a royal tour in Kenya at the time.

The King and Queen are to celebrate Christmas Day alongside other members of the royal family at Sandringham.

The private Norfolk estate will once again host the traditional royal festivities.

Charles and Camilla are expected to be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis for morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church.

The King and Queen, along with the Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, waved to well-wishers while attending a Christmas Eve service at the church on Sunday.

Royal Christmases traditionally feature the greeting of people outside the church, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

Sandringham House has been the private home of four generations of British monarchs for more than 160 years, and now belongs to the King.