Princess Anne, known for her tireless work ethic within the Royal family, was notably absent from the Christmas Day service at Sandringham.
The 72-year-old royal, who undertook an impressive 214 engagements this year, had to skip the church service due to a cold.
While King Charles, Camilla, the Queen Consort, and the Prince and Princess of Wales attended the service, Princess Anne was notably missing.
Reports from the Daily Mirror indicated that Princess Anne’s absence was due to her battling a cold, prompting her to take some much-needed rest after a demanding year.
In addition to coping with her own health issues, Princess Anne also faced the loss of her mother this year, adding to her emotional burden.
Furthermore, Princess Anne’s busy schedule led to her missing other significant events, such as Kate’s Westminster Abbey carol service on Christmas Eve.
Conflicting schedules prevented her from attending the service, as she was already committed to the London International Horse Show on December 15.
Despite Princess Anne’s absence, the Christmas morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church saw the attendance of various Royal family members.
Among those present were the children of the Prince and Princess of Wales – George, Charlotte, and Louis – along with Edward and Sophie Wessex, Lady Louise Windsor, James, Viscount Severn, Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and his son Wolfie.
In a surprising turn of events, Prince Andrew, who has been embroiled in controversy, made a public appearance alongside his youngest daughter, Prince Eugenie.
This marks the first Christmas for the royal family without the late queen, who passed away in September.
The absence of the former monarch led to a break in the tradition of spending Christmas at Sandringham, with the family opting to stay at Windsor Castle for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
As the royal family navigates these changes and adapts to new circumstances, the absence of key figures like Princess Anne at traditional events raises questions about the future dynamics within the monarchy.
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