Kate and Meghan are all smiles as they put rumours of a rift behind them to join their husbands,
the Queen and the rest of the Royal Family at Christmas Day church service in Sandringham.
The Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Sussex were all smiles today
as they joined the Queen at church in Sandringham for the Christmas Day service.
Kate, 36, and Meghan, 37, were greeted by adoring crowds as they made their way to St Mary Magdalene Church,
a short walk from Sandringham House on the Royal Family's Norfolk estate.
Prince William, 36, and Harry, 34, joined their wives as they put on a united front amid rumours of a 'rift' and mounting tensions between the two couples.
It was confirmed earlier this month that the 'Fab Four' were going to spend Christmas Day together despite claims of a falling out.
Hundreds of well-wishers turned out to see the royal family, but the Duke of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Cornwall were missing.
Philip and Camilla did not join the rest of the royals as they made the short walk.
It is understood the duke is in good health and will spend the day relaxing privately with his family.
Camilla missed an appearance at the Olympia Horse Show last week due to a heavy cold and is believed to be still recovering from the bug.
Behind the lead group strode Peter Phillips holding the hands of his daughters Savannah and Isla,
and they were followed by Princess Beatrice and Peter's wife Autumn Phillips.
A few metres behind were Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank,
who smiled at the crowds as they walked towards the church.
Towards the back of the group were the Earl and Countess of Wessex with their children,
Lady Louise Windsor and Viscount Severn, the Princess Royal and Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and Zara and Mike Tindall.
The Queen arrived in her state limousine with the Duke of York.
During the service the congregation sang traditional carols O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Hark!
The Herald Angels Sing and O Come All Ye Faithful.
Afterwards the young royals went on a brief walkabout
and when Meghan saw 17-year-old Jessica holding up a small sign with her Instagram username on it,
Jessica Scarlett, she instantly recognised it and gave her social media friend a hug.
The teenager, from Peterborough, described the experience as 'amazing' adding :
'I started watching Suits, then I started following her on social media
and then followed her acting and followed her humanitarian work, so I've been a fan of her for years.
'There were a group of us girls on social media she became kind of close with and interacted a lot online'.
She said about the duchess, who closed down her social media accounts before her marriage to Harry:
'This is the first time I've met her, she just said 'it's so lovely to meet you,
incredible to finally see you' and she was asking how we all are and if we're still talking and supporting each other'.
Meghan and Kate were given armfuls of bouquets by well-wishers
as they went on a brief walkabout after the service with their husbands.
Kate chatted to Jill Lee, from Cambridge, who has watched the royals attend church on Christmas Day a number of times.
She said: I said to Kate 'were the children up early' and she said 'very early, but it was lovely to see their faces'.
The 71-year-old, a retired seamstress, kissed Harry on the cheek a few years ago
when he left church but this year he declined the offer - because of Meghan.
She said: 'I said to Harry 'I can't kiss you this year, can I?' and he said 'no' and pointed to his wife'.
Rumours of the feud surfaced when the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced
they were moving out of Kensington Palace to live in Frogmore House in Windsor.
There were also reports of a falling out between Meghan and Kate
during Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress fitting before the royal wedding earlier this year.
It was then hinted that the Cambridge's would spend the day with the Middleton family in Berkshire,
and Harry and Meghan would spend it with the Queen.
However Kensington Palace confirmed they would be celebrating the day together in what is expected to be a show of solidarity between the royals.
Royal fans wait at the church each year to get a glimpse of the family to start their Christmas festivities.
Many had brought bouquets of flowers or had got in the Christmas spirit by wearing Santa hats.
Poised with her camera phone in the crowds was Karen Anvil, 40, from Watlington, Norfolk,
who snapped the Royals smiling as they left church last Christmas Day.
She said the photo had been like a lottery win after she posted it on social media
before a professional photographer at the church put her in touch with his agent.
She said by 5pm the same day, the picture had gone viral and it has since been sold to at least 50 countries.
Sales of the photograph have enabled her take a year off work, clear debts and pay for a house revamp.
This year the Duchess of Sussex is enjoying her first Christmas as a member of the royal family.
But the American former actress is in the rare position of already having spent December 25 with the Windsors.
She became the first non-married partner invited to Christmas lunch at Sandringham with the Queen in 2017.
Now an HRH and a duchess, the ex-Suits star is seven months into her royal life, and due to give birth to a royal baby in the spring.
The traditions followed by the royal family at Christmas are a little different from many households in the UK.
While most people across the country open their presents on Christmas Day,
the royal family still keep to the German practice of opening their gifts on Christmas Eve.
Known as Heiligabend Bescherung (which translates as Christmas Eve exchanging presents),
the tradition was popularised by Queen Victoria and Prince Albert.
The Queen, the Duke of Edinburgh and other royals usually congregate in the White Drawing Room
at Sandringham House the day before Christmas to put the finishing touches to a 20ft (6m) tree cut from the estate.
Presents are placed on a white linen-covered trestle table, with cards marking exactly where the piles of gifts should be put.
The Queen likes practical presents, but not overly extravagant ones,
and the royals also reportedly like to exchange joke or non-costly quirky gifts.
Kate revealed that she was left stumped over what to buy the monarch for Christmas during her first stay at Sandringham.
'I thought back to what would I give my own grandparents.
And I thought 'I'll make her something'. Which could have gone horribly wrong,' the duchess said.
'But I decided to make my granny's recipe of chutney.
I was slightly worried about it, but I noticed the next day that it was on the table'.
Diana, Princess of Wales, once fell foul of the royal rules on present-giving,
apparently buying cashmere sweaters as her first festive royal presents,
and getting joke gifts such as a loo-roll holder in return.
At 5pm, guests enjoy tea, scones, sandwiches and cakes from sideboards in the Saloon.
Afterwards, they dress for dinner, with the men in black tie and the women in evening gowns, with the table set with the finest china.
Sarah, Duchess of York, once described the royal Christmas as 'exhausting', having changed outfits seven times in 24 hours.
Sometime after 10pm, on a signal from the Queen, the dorgis are led out and the ladies adjourn,
leaving the Duke of Edinburgh to serve port or brandy to the men.
On Christmas Day, the royals awake to find stockings filled with small gifts and fruit at the foot of their beds.
After the morning service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the royal estate is a traditional event where they greet well-wishers.
Back at the house, lunch is prepared by their staff and served at 1pm, and the royals indulge in a giant turkey, reared at Sandringham.
They then settle down to watch the Queen's Christmas Speech.
The Queen sometimes quietly leaves the room and lets her family watch the national address by themselves,
as she views it alone to see how it comes across.
Boxing Day, when the royals enjoy a breakfast buffet of kedgeree, bacon and eggs,
often involves outdoor pursuits such as shooting, riding and walking.
Classic Kate wins the Christmas Day style war with a festive 1940s Catherine Walker coat,
as modern Meghan supports pal Victoria Beckham by wearing her £2,250 jacket, £1,000 boots and clutching Posh's £1,200 bag.
Royal fans were treated to a double helping of Duchess this morning as Kate and Meghan arrived together
at Sandringham for the Christmas Day service - each sporting extremely different styles.
Side by side, Kate the Duchess of Cambridge, 36, and Meghan, the Duchess of Sussex, 37,
appeared to have put their reported differences aside as they strode toward the church with their husbands.
However, their choice of outfit could not have been further apart with Kate going for a classic look and Meghan choosing chic,
dressed in items from Victoria Beckham's clothing line.
An ever-stylish Kate cut a classic figure in a red custom made Catherine Walker dress coat with a burgundy collar and matching hat,
teamed with gold accessories, gloves and a red Bayswater clutch by Mulberry.
She wore dark tights and modest red Gianvito Rossi heels, appearing to be continuing with a forties era style.
Recently the Duchess has appeared in A-line coats, shouldered jackets and mid-length skirts as she leads the pack for Royal fashion.
The pregnant Duchess of Sussex however, opted for a much more modern outfit.
The Duchess who came in on Prince Harry's arm chose to go chic in dark colours and high heeled black boots.
She wore a double breasted tailored £2,250 coat from the VB line, as well as a pair of boots by David Beckham's wife.
The stylish Duchess also carried a £1,200 powder box bag by the Spice Girl turned designer.
However, she was matched perfectly with her husband who wore a lighter shade of blue.
The Beckhams attended the wedding of the Duke and Duchess in May.
The former suits actress who married Prince Harry in May also wore black,
calf height boots over a dark dress, coat and matching hat with dark blue feathers protruding from it.
The Duchess of Sussex may have a lot to learn from Prince William's wife who has become a style icon.
Kate's clothes fly off shelves of stores whenever she wears them.
Recently, she has opted for 40s and 50s style – and the fashion world is lapping it up.
Kate, 36, and Meghan, 37, were greeted by adoring crowds as they made their way to St Mary Magdalene Church,
a short walk from Sandringham House on the Royal Family's Norfolk estate.
Prince William, 36, and Harry, 34, joined their wives and the rest of the Royal Family
as they put on a united front amid rumours of a 'rift' and mounting tensions between the two couples.
It was confirmed earlier this month that the 'Fab Four' were going to spend Christmas Day together despite claims of a falling out.
It began after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex announced they were moving out of Kensington Palace to live in Frogmore House in Windsor.
There were also reports of a falling out between Meghan and Kate
during Princess Charlotte's bridesmaid dress fitting before the royal wedding earlier this year.
It was then hinted that the Cambridge's would spend the day with the Middleton family in Berkshire,
and Harry and Meghan would spend it with the Queen.
However Kensington Palace confirmed they would be celebrating the day together in what is expected to be a show of solidarity between the royals.
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