Christmas fun for all the family! Lady Louise Windsor, 20, joins her parents the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh at Windsor Castle for King Charles’s extended festive family lunch

• The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were among first to arrive for the lunch 
• READ MORE: Queen Camilla says she ‘misses Paul O’Grady very much’

Lady Louise Windsor, 20, joined her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, as they, along with Princess Anne, led arrivals at Windsor Castle – where King Charles and Queen Camilla are welcoming extended family members for a festive turkey lunch today.

Prince Edward, 59, was pictured at the wheel, joining his wife Sophie, 58, and their daughter. 

They were closely followed by the Princess Royal, 73, sporting a chic emerald green ensemble as she was driven by her husband Tim Laurence, 68.

The King and Queen are treating dozens of relatives to a sit-down meal – which has typically taken place annually on the Wednesday before Christmas, shortly before the monarch leaves for Sandringham for the holiday season.

The tradition is one of the rare times when all the monarch’s extended family meet, and is a chance for Charles to celebrate with those who do not receive an invitation to spend Christmas in Norfolk with the senior royals. 

Lady Louise Windsor , 20, joined her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , as they, along with Princess Anne , led arrivals at Windsor Castle – where King Charles and Queen Camilla are welcoming extended family members for a festive turkey lunch today 

The family are seated at round tables, enjoy a Sandringham-bred turkey lunch and pull crackers. 

Last year’s event saw the family brought together in the largest reunion since the Queen’s funeral in September 2022 – and was the first time the traditional gathering has taken place since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic. 

In 2021, the late Queen had planned to welcome 50 family members to Windsor Castle where she was living at the time, but cancelled due to fears over the Omicron Covid variant. 

The lunch was also called off in December 2020 when London was in lockdown and people were urged not to travel around the country due to the pandemic.

Festive cheer was already in the air earlier this month, when senior royals made an appearance at the Princess of Wales’s annual Christmas carol service – where she high-fived and spoke with children who have gone ‘above and beyond’ for charity.

Kate, 41, was joined by Prince William and their children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. 

The Royal children were seen stepping in to the event at Westminster Abbey – while five-year-old Prince Louis once again drew attention by blowing out his sister’s candle and chatting to a statue outside.

Among the large number of royal guests were Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice, her stepson Christopher Mapelli Mozzi and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips and his daughters Savannah and Isla.

They were closely followed by the Princess Royal, 73, sporting a chic emerald green ensemble as she was driven by her husband Tim Laurence , 68 

The King and Queen are treating dozens of relatives to a sit-down meal – which has typically taken place annually on the Wednesday before Christmas, shortly before the monarch leaves for Sandringham for the holiday season 

Prince Edward , 59, was pictured at the wheel, joining his wife Sophie, 58, and their daughter Louise 

Although he was not present due to a diary clash, the King has donated Christmas trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate Westminster Abbey, which will be donated to the local community after the service.

Among the group of celebrities waiting to greet the family in the Abbey’s Lady Chapel were singers Beverley Knight and Adam Lambert, musician Jacob Collier and actor Jim Broadbent.

Catherine’s sister Pippa and husband James Matthews were also photographed arriving for the event, as were Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband Daniel Chatto.

The Princess herself unveiled a very special festive gift to guests at the concert – a rendition of Last Christmas played on John Lennon’s piano.

It is understood that Charles and Camilla will celebrate Christmas Day at the Norfolk Estate with family members.

It is likely that they will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Royal and her family, the Duke of Duchess and their children.

Royal Christmases feature a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, the greeting of well-wishers, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.

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