Prince William and Kate, Princess of Wales, appeared in high spirits on Tuesday as they arrived at Buckingham Palace with their three children for the royal family’s traditional pre Christmas lunch. William was spotted driving through the palace gates with Kate seated beside him, while Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis sat in the back. The family looked relaxed and cheerful as they headed inside for the annual gathering hosted by King Charles.
The pre Christmas lunch is a long standing royal tradition that brings together both senior and extended members of the family ahead of the holidays. While the main Christmas celebrations take place at Sandringham on December 25, this London based event allows relatives who may not travel to Norfolk to still take part in a festive get together.
A full royal turnout
This year’s lunch saw an especially strong turnout. Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie arrived together, marking their first public appearance with the wider family since they missed the Princess of Wales’ Christmas carol service earlier this month. Their arrival quickly caught the attention of royal watchers.