Princess Charlotte stole the show at Sandringham today as she joined her parents and grandmother at the royal family’s traditional Christmas Day church for the first time.
At four years of age, little Charlotte was this year considered old enough to attend the annual service, alongside her big brother George, six.
And afterwards, the princess delighted fans as she cheerily waved and greeted them before displaying her impeccable manners as she accepted Christmas presents from them.
The four-year-old also melted hearts as she stopped to hug a woman in a wheelchair.
Princess Charlotte hugged a woman in a wheelchair who had waited for hours to meet them
The Duchess of Cambridge laughed and joked with fans as her daughter was given presents
The four-year-old tried to clutch her mother’s hand as they left the church of St Mary Magdalene
Karen Anvil, who famously took a picture of the ‘Fab Four’ – the Cambridges and Sussexes two years ago – gifted Charlotte a doll this morning
The Duchess of Cambridge, Princess Charlotte and Prince George leave the St Mary Magdalene’s church
Charlotte, four, smiled to crowds outside the church – unlike her big brother Prince George, six
George and his little sister Charlotte walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church hand in hand with their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Charlotte looked adorable in her emerald swing coat which perfectly matched her mother’s accessories.
The Prince of Wales walked alongside them as he greeted fans who had been waiting outside for hours in the biting cold.
One-year-old Prince Louis stayed at the house.
Fans praised Charlotte’s ‘impeccable’ manners and ‘cheeky’ persona as they gifted he presents including a teddy and a pink flamingo toy.
Karen Anvil, who famously took a picture of the ‘Fab Four’ – the Cambridges and Sussexes two years ago – gifted Charlotte a doll this morning.
Ms Anvil then captured a photo of the four-year-old.
Ms Anvil told Sky News: ‘She came over with her mum, she liked the doll. Her manners are outstanding – but she’s cheeky, she wasn’t at all scared.’
She said Prince George’s manners were also ‘perfect’.
The Duchess of Cambridge teamed her pine green hat with matching court heels, which perfectly contrasted her grey woollen and fur-trimmed military-style coat
Charlotte looked adorable in her emerald swing coat which perfectly matched her mother’s accessories
Charlotte and her mother spoke with fans in the crowd, accepting presents along the way
The four-year-old happily spoke to a young boy in a wheelchair who had waited to meet her
The youngster put on an animated display as she left the church, beside her mother Catherine
As hundreds of people took her photo, the four-year-old got distracted by the goings-on at Sandringham
Charlotte and her mother Kate accepted a bunch of flowers from one well-wisher
The Duchess of Cambridge teamed her pine green hat with matching court heels, which perfectly contrasted her grey woollen and fur-trimmed military-style coat
Today is the first time the younger royals have attended, with Prince George and Princess Charlotte going into church alongside their parents, William and Kate. At six and four they are now old enough to sit through the service
Little Charlotte smiled as she held her parents’ hands. while her grandfather Charles happily greeted crowds
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge followed Princess Beatrice into the service this morning
The Duchess of Cambridge teamed her pine green hat with matching court heels, which perfectly contrasted her grey woollen and fur-trimmed military-style coat
Addressing the atmosphere at Sandringham, marred by Prince Andrew’s absence in the wake of his car-crash Newsnight interview, she said: ‘This morning there was a different feel – there were lots of questions about Andrew and so many theories about whether he’d be here or not.
‘I’ve been here for three years, and this year it is definitely different. But it is packed here.’
The 93-year-old Queen, wearing a red coat and hat, arrived at the church in a maroon Bentley with the Duchess of Cornwall.
The Duke of Edinburgh, 98, who was discharged from hospital on Christmas Eve, was at Sandringham but did not attend church.
He had spent four nights at the King Edward VII Hospital in London to receive treatment for a ‘pre-existing condition’.
Philip, who retired from public duties in 2017, did not attend last year’s church service either despite being in good health at the time.
The Duke of York, who has had a tumultuous end to the year after his disastrous appearance on the BBC’s Newsnight programme, walked side by side with Charles to a service at 9am but did not attend the 11am service.
Princess Eugenie of York followed the Cambridges, wearing a simple black coat and navy feather headband
Family unit: Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George and Princess Charlotte
The Prince of Wales looked delighted as he spoke to fans who gathered outside the church
Four-year-old Princess Charlotte – who matched her mother’s outfit – followed her grandmother out of the church
The Duchess of Cambridge’s accessories perfectly matched her daughter Charlotte’s coat
Andrew’s attempt to explain his relationship with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein backfired and he was heavily criticised for showing a lack of empathy towards Epstein’s victims and remorse over his friendship with the disgraced financier.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex were also absent this year, instead opting to spend seven-month-old Archie’s first Christmas with the Duchess’s mother, Doria Ragland, in Canada.
Others attending the main morning service included Princess Beatrice and her fiance, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.