This just in: King Charles III will pay tribute to his late mother, Queen Elizabeth, during the holidays.
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the king will carry on the queen’s tradition of traveling to Sandringham for Christmas. Not only will he host a family gathering during this time, but he’ll also attend a Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene.
King Charles will be joined by his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles (Queen Consort). Prince William and his wife, Kate Middleton, will likely make an appearance because they typically stay at Anmer Hall during the holidays.
According to royal expert Emily Nash, it will mark bittersweet moment for the royal family as they celebrate their first Christmas without Queen Elizabeth. “This is going to be a very poignant Christmas for the king and his family, as their first without the late queen in their midst,” she told Hello! magazine. “But it’s also a chance for them to all come together and share their memories and continue family traditions in the place she loved so much.”
Nash continued, “It’s also going to be a historic first Christmas as monarch for the king, who will be recording his first Christmas Day message for broadcast on 15 December. I’m sure he will reflect on his mother’s remarkable reign and the outpouring of love and support for him following her sad death.”
Nash also mentioned a few royal family traditions that King Charles will likely continue: “I think the royal family will want to honor all the traditions they associate with Christmas at Sandringham—exchanging gifts on Christmas Eve and walking to St. Mary Magdalene for the Christmas Day service—but there’s no doubt it will be an emotional time for them without their matriarch.”
Sending virtual hugs to the entire royal family.
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