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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Susie Beever

Why hardest-working royal Princess Anne didn't join others at Christmas church service

As is royal tradition, Christmas Day for the royal family saw them walking to church in Sandringham.

But eagle-eyed fans may have spotted one very prominent family member missing from the group.

Princess Anne may be one of the most ubiquitous royals when it comes to official visits and duties - she's already carried out 214 engagements this year alone - but the King's sister was nowhere to be seen on Sunday morning.

The 72-year-old did not join her children Zara Tindall, Peter Phillips, and the rest of the family for the annual festive service due to suffering from a cold, The Mirror understands.

The Princess Royal has been struck ill, and is taking a well-deserved rest after a busy year in which she has also lost her mother.

The Princess Royal was not seen at the Christmas Day church service due to having a cold, The Mirror understands (Getty Images)

The hardest-working royal was also not able to attend Kate's Westminster Abbey carol service, which aired last night, although this was reportedly down to a conflict in schedules rather than illness.

Anne attended the London International Horse Show at ExCel London on December 15, meaning she couldn't make the festive carol service.

The King and Queen Consort Camilla were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, George, Charlotte and Louis, for the Christmas morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church in the Norfolk estate.

Princess Anne was unable to attend the Christmas Day church service at Sandringham (Getty Images)

Prince Louis was notably absent from the Together At Christmas carol service, but stole hearts once again on Christmas morning as he appeared to tug at his mum, growing restless from the attention.

Also making an appearance ahead of the annual Christmas service were Zara and Mike Tindall, Edward and Sophie Wessex with Lady Louise Windsor and James, Viscount Severn as well as Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and his son Wolfie.

Disgraced Prince Andrew surprised the public by making an appearance, despite reports King Charles had had him 'thrown out' of Buckingham Palace.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church (Samir Hussein/WireImage)

Andrew, who was stripped of his titles following outrage at his relationship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, was seen alongside his youngest daughter Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank.

This Christmas marks the family's first without the late Queen following her death in September.

The former monarch had spent the last two Christmases at Windsor Castle - forgoing royal tradition of spending the season at Sandringham - due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The Queen Consort and King Charles III attending the Christmas Day morning church service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham (PA)

Last year's was embroiled in drama after one man allegedly broke onto Windsor's grounds with a crossbow, allegedly telling security he was there to "kill the Queen".

Jaswant Singh Chail, 20, from Southampton, is due to stand trial next year charged under the Treason Act.

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