The King will host his family on Christmas Day at the royals’ Sandringham estate, Buckingham Palace has confirmed
The monarch and the Queen Consort will be joined by the wider family as they mark their poignant first Christmas since the death of the late Queen and Charles's accession to the throne in September.
The Mirror revealed last month that Charles would invite his nearest and dearest to the Norfolk estate, including his estranged son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan.
But the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who remain engaged in a bitter war of words with the royal family after they decided to ditch their roles two years ago, had already decided to snub the invitation.
The Prince and Princess of Wales and their three children are expected to join the King, as are Charles’ siblings Princess Anne, Prince Edward.
The Duke of York, who was forced to step back from royal duties earlier this year after paying £12million to a woman who accused him of sexual assault in the United State, has so far not confirmed his attendance with the rest of the family.
Royal staff are delighted in welcoming back the royals to Norfolk again, invoking memories of when the late Queen Elizabeth II hosted her family over the festive period throughout the decades.
It follows a two-year break, when, due to the Covid pandemic, the late Queen spent Christmas at Windsor Castle two years in a row - the first with the Duke of Edinburgh, separated from her wider family in lockdown.
Royal Christmases usually feature a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, the greeting of well-wishers, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.
Charles is also preparing to pre-record his historic, first ever Christmas Broadcast as monarch, when he will no doubt reflect on the loss of his mother and her legacy.
Traditionally, members of the royal family sit down to watch the televised address when it airs after lunch, usually at 3pm on December 25.
Meanwhile, Windsor Castle has been transformed ready for Christmas, with a 20ft tree in St George's Hall decorated in 3,000 lights and hundreds of regal purple ribbons.
It took a team of four staff from the Royal Collection Trust two days to dress the Berkshire royal residence's festive trees.
Tourists visiting the State Apartments will see the rooms transformed with shimmering trees, twinkling lights and festive garlands.
A handmade angel sits on top of St George's Hall's towering Nordmann fir, which was sourced from nearby Windsor Great Park.
The Christmas colour scheme at the castle was chosen by Royal Collection Trust curators together with the exhibitions team, and this year the central tree features purple velvet and satin ribbons and scores of jewel-shaped ornaments.
