Princess Kate and Prince William are reportedly mulling over staging a “rival Christmas party” at their home this December, with the Middleton family taking centre stage.
It’s traditional every year for the Royal Family to gather together for Christmas just like families up and down the land, but according to sources, the King’s health battles may make this year’s schedule a little different.
According to the Daily Beast, the Prince and Princess of Wales will be hosting Princess Kate’s mother and father, Carole and Mike, along with others from the Middleton clan, at their home, Anmer Hall, on the Sandringham estate.
It’s reported King Charles’ battle with cancer means his health will be a priority this Christmas, although the Monarch was on fine form during a trip to Australia and Samoa.
This December 25 will mark the nearing of the end of a tough year for Princess Kate too, after she revealed in March she had been undergoing chemotherapy since late February. In September, the Princess stated she had completed her treatment.
A source close to Prince Andrew told the Daily Beast the celebrations for Christmas will be more muted. They said: “It will be a quieter Christmas than last year, but the question is, how quiet? Usually everyone would know what bits they are invited to by now. This year, it’s just wait and see.”
It’s understood the royal walkabout on Christmas Day to the church in Sandringham will go ahead as planned, and it’s not known if the Wales’ Christmas function will be the only get-together, or if there could be more with the wider Royal Family on the big day.
The Princess of Wales’s strength has been admired by many fans, who will undoubtedly be eager to see the special Christmas card from the family later this year.
Although the contents of the card remain unknown, it will undoubtedly feature the couple’s three children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
Ahead of its release in December, royal expert Ingrid Sewerd has voiced her prediction on what the card could look like.
According to the Mirror, the expert said that it will all be about family.
She told the publication: “[It will] definitely be with family as right across the board that is what has been traditionally sent.”
She also predicts that it could display her closeness to her young children, adding, “I imagine that it will be cuddly picture of her with her arms around her children.”
Although Ms Seward theorises it will be a “close contact picture”, she added that she believes the royal will be keen to put “her cancer battle behind her” and move forward.
As well as predicting that a cosy positive image could be on the cards due to her cancer battle, Ms Seward said that it could also be down to the picture editing row that erupted following the release of the family’s Mother’s Day picture in March.
