How generations of well-wishers have greeted the Queen and members of the Royal Family outside Sandringham church on Christmas Day
Sandringham - 25.12.92 - Credit: DW
It's a quaint scene which has been repeated every December outside the tiny Church of St Mary Magdalene, on the Sandringham estate, for generations.
The late Queen Mother always had a smile for our photographers as they braved the cold for a picture of her arriving.
She would also stop to speak to many in the crowd, some of whom would have been queueing from the early hours on December 25 to be certain of a good vantage point.
The young Princes William and Harry were also popular with the crowds, smiling as they walked back to Sandringham House after the morning service.
Their mother the late Diana, Princess of Wales, grew up a stone's throw from Sandringham church at Park House, formerly the home of the Spencer family which is now a hotel for disabled people.
You may also want to watch:
Today, the Royals still stroll along the same path, exchanging greetings with well-wishers lining the route. But not all will be there this year.
Prince William, the Duchess of Cambridge and their children Prince George and Princess Charlotte are expected to spend Christmas with the Duchess's parents, in Berkshire.
Most Read
- 1 Builder took pink pill and ran naked around hotel
- 2 Fire tears through historic Thorpe pub
- 3 Four national high street names to move into former M&S store
- 4 Mass coronavirus vaccination centre opens in Norwich today
- 5 Stunning images capture Cromer in the snow
- 6 Store open despite positive Covid test at town centre Sainsbury's
- 7 Vaccines roll-out to move on to over 70s
- 8 Delays as 23m-long caravan travels through Norfolk
- 9 Norfolk to get rapid Covid test sites - to find people without symptoms
- 10 Vandals leave £80,000 trail of destruction in car park
Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of York and his daughters princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Princess Royal and Earl of Wessex, along with their families are all expected to join the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh for Christmas.
The Queen and Duke are expected to travel to Norfolk from London later this week.
Arriving before the rest of her family, the Monarch will oversee preparations including Christmas decorations and selecting a tree from her own Royal sawmills near the house to form the centrepiece for the big day.
Like many other traditions we enjoy at Christmas, the decorated tree was first popularised by the Royal Family.