Prince William and Kate Middleton Step Out at Sandringham – WWD

LONDON — Public appearances, family feuds, and damage control—it’s not the most idyllic time of year Christmas for the British royal family.

Prince William, Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis celebrate Christmas in Sandringham, Norfolk in Eastern England.

This is Wales’ first Christmas at Sandringham under their new title since the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who hosted 32 Christmases at Sandringham House. The late queen canceled her 2020 and 2021 celebrations due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The new Princess of Wales wears back a specially structured military green coat from Alexander McQueen featuring a flap pocket. He made his debut in the mantle in January 2020 when he visited City Hall in Bradford’s Centenary Square.

She completed her outfit with a Philip Treacy wide-brimmed hat in the same color as her coat, adorned with a simple bow and feather.

Like mother, like daughter – Princess Charlotte wore back the same burgundy Trotter coat she wore with her family last week.

Prince William and his sons Princes George and Louis were in unison in a navy blue ensemble with the youngest prince wearing shorts with knee socks.

It is tradition for the British royal family to attend a Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene’s Church where they are then greeted by the crowd outside as the delegation makes its way back to the royal residence. But the ongoing feud and controversy has turned the walkabout into a Christmas scene of Joan Crawford’s own family sporting a gilded front.

Sandrinham House was the backdrop for Pablo Larraín’s film “Spencer”, starring Kristen Stewart, which depicts the traditions expected of senior members of the British royal family, such as being weighed in as they come and go.

This Christmas is a watershed moment for the royal family to show unity amid Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s Netflix docuseries, “Harry and Meghan.”

“They loved to lie to protect my brother… They never wanted to tell the truth to protect us,” the Duke of Sussex says in the series, calling it “institutional gaslighting”.

On December 15, to divert recent tabloid attention on the family, Prince William and Kate wore another uniformed front at the “Royal Carols: Together at Christmas” concert in Westminster Abbey following their annual Christmas card reveal with their children.

The Christmas concert was recorded and aired on Christmas Eve on British TV channel ITV with the princess of Wales leading tributes to the late queen.

“His Majesty holds Christmas close to his heart, as a time to bring people together and remind us of the importance of faith, friendship and family, and to show empathy and compassion,” he said in the recording.

“So even though Christmas will feel very different this year, we can still remember the memories and traditions we share. Take some time to relax and celebrate with family and friends all the beautiful things that make Christmas so special,” added the duchess.

Despite this pardon period, it is unlikely that Sussex will be pardoned just yet. The next stop on Prince Harry’s flight of freedom will be his tell-all memoir “Spare,” which is slated for release on January 10.