My World Earth: Queen and Royal Family arrive at Sandringham for traditional Christmas Day service in the snow

Friday, December 25, 2009

Queen and Royal Family arrive at Sandringham for traditional Christmas Day service in the snow

They say you should never sacrifice style for comfort, which may explain why Zara Phillips and her sister-in-law, Autumn Kelly, tottered into church with the rest of the Royal Family on Christmas Day.

The attractive pair successfully managed to negotiate the treacherously icy paths of Norfolk as they walked the quarter of a mile route from Sandringham House in fashionable six-inch stiletto heels.

The area has seen more than six inches of snow in recent days and the fields remained picturesquely white for Christmas Day.
Princess Anne's daughter, a world champion three-day eventer who was without her long-term boyfriend, England rubgy player Mike Tindall (who, according to protocol, would not be invited along until they were married), needed a little help on the final furlong, however, and spontaneously linked arms with her cousin Prince William.

Others, including the Queen and the Duchess of Cornwall, were more sensibly shod in knee-high boots, with Camilla also sporting a real fur Philip Treacy Cossack-style hat and a blue wool Anna Valentine coat.
The Countess of Wessex also stood out in a pair of black four-inch stilettos, although she opted to travel to church by car with the Queen, 83, while the rest of the family group, including the 88-year-old Duke of Edinburgh, made their way on foot.

The Duke of York's daughters, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also opted for black knee-length boots with low heels, although the younger of the sisters brightened up her outfit with a shocking pink trilby by milliner Philip Treacy.

Beatrice, 21, wore a Marc Jacobs coat and a hat she picked up from London department store Fenwicks.

Around 500 onlookers watched the royal party attend their traditional Christmas Day church service on the Queen's estate. Security was tighter than ever as they arrived with police searching all visitors.
The searches took so long that around 300 people were told they were too late go in and the gates were closed.

Three-year-old Sophie Manton, from Downham Market, was in tears when she found she could not give her bunch of tulips to the Queen.

Her mother, Sarah Hawkes, 40, said: 'She is so disappointed. She very much wanted to see the Queen. She thought she might be wearing her crown.

'She has only seen the Queen on television before and wanted to get close to her.'

Other lucky children did line up to give the Queen flowers after the service and several of the royals exchanged Christmas greetings with onlookers as they walked back to Sandringham House.Prince William stopped to hug carer Debbie Barlett, 51, who lives near Sandringham and attends the Christmas Day service every year.

'He gave me a hug and a kiss and asked me where my snowman was,' she said.

'I've been coming here for the past 20 years. It's one chance you get to see the royals all together. It's lovely.'

Also among the party were Prince Charles, Prince Harry, Princess Anne and her husband, Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence, the Duke of York and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

Royal girlfriends Kate Middleton and Chelsy Davy were not present, although there is much speculation that Prince William's long-term love may join the party for their traditional Boxing Day pheasant shoot.
If she does, the moment is unlikely to be recorded, however, as the Queen's has threatened to take legal action against any photographers tempted to capture the occasion.

Earlier this year she sent out warnings to newspapers demanding they 'respect her family's privacy' by refraining from publishing photographs of them holidaying on the estate.

On Christmas Eve police threatened to arrest anyone taking pictures of Princes William and Harry playing in their annual football match against local villagers and a Buckingham Palace spokeswoman even refused to confirm the score of the game, claiming it was a 'private activity'.

Prince Harry is due to fly out to Mauritius tomorrow to join his on-off partner, Miss Davy. He will spend New Year on the tropical island with her family before returning to duty with the Army Air Corps at the beginning of January.

Debbie Barlett, 51, was delighted after Prince William stopped to give her a hug

Hands in pockets, Harry arrives at Sandringham with Zara and Autumn Phillips in their high heels

Queen Elizabeth receives flowers after attending a Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church

In the pink: The Countess of Wessex and Princess Eugenie leave St Mary Magdalene Church

Popular: The Duchess of Cornwall speaks to wellwishers as she leaves the church. Scores of people missed seeing the royals because of legnthy security checks