King Charles and the royal family, without Andrew, gather for Christmas at Sandringham

King Charles III and the members of the royal family – without his disgraced brother, the former Prince Andrew – headed to church for Christmas services on Thursday morning at the king’s private estate at Sandringham, where they traditionally gather for the holiday.

Charles and Queen Camilla, along with the Prince and Princess of Wales, William and Kate, and their children, Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, and their extended family, attended the service at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London.

Members of the royal family also stopped to greet the crowds outside.

Andrew was not present at the holiday meeting, BBC News reported, following the scandal over his ties to the deceased sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. He I didn’t attend last year either. In October he was stripped of his remaining titles and honors, including that of prince, and is now known as Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Later today, the King’s annual Christmas address to the UK and Commonwealth is expected to focus on the theme of pilgrimage.

His address was recorded at Westminster Abbey, a landmark known as the site of lavish coronations and royal weddings which it has hosted for over 1,000 years. The abbey is also the subject of an annual pilgrimage to the tomb of Edward the Confessor, which is at the heart of the church. Edward, a monk-like monarch, was canonized as a saint in 1161.

The monarch’s annual holiday message is watched by millions of people in the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, most of which have historic links to Britain. The pre-recorded speech is broadcast there at 3 p.m., while many families are enjoying their traditional Christmas lunch.

The speech is one of the rare occasions when Charles, 77, can express his own opinions and does not seek advice from the government. It generally has a strong religious framework, reflects current issues and sometimes draws on the personal experiences of the monarch.

This is Charles’ fourth Christmas speech since ascend the throne after his mother, Queen Elizabeth IIdied in September 2022.

The speech comes just two weeks after Charles made a very personal television appearance in which he said the “good news” from his doctors meant he would be able to reduce your cancer treatment in the new year.

THE the king was diagnosed with an as yet undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024. Buckingham Palace says his treatment is now moving to a “precautionary phase” and his condition will be monitored to ensure his continued recovery.

During last year’s Christmas speech, Charles paid tribute to carers across the country and presented a a special thank you to the doctors and nurses who supported him after his cancer diagnosis.

Catherine, Princess of Wales, also underwent treatment for cancer last year. She said in January that she was in remission after crossing “difficult times” during his convalescence. Kate, as she is widely known, did not share details about what type of cancer it was.

She and her husband, Prince William, Prince of Wales and heir to the thronehave three children: Prince George of Wales, 12, Princess Charlotte of Wales, 10, and Prince Louis of Wales, 7.