Royals LIVE: King Charles, Prince William and Princess Kate greet well wishers outside Sandringham church following Christmas Day service before monarch’s speech is broadcast to nation

A cancer survivor hugged Princess Kate and spoke to King Charles after the church service in Sandringham earlier today.

Karen Maclean, 73, from North Lincolnshire, said she had had ’20 years of cancer’ and spoke about the disease with the King and his daughter-in-law after their own health issues this year.

‘We just had a little talk about cancer, really,’ said Ms Maclean.

‘I’ve met the King before. He said to me ‘I can remember you’, I’m thinking ‘what!’, like many years ago?’

She said that Charles and Kate seemed ‘very well actually, considering what they’re going through’.

She added after hugging Kate: ‘What a privilege.’

This is the moment Princess Beatrice waved to crowds as she arrived at the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham today.

The late Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter was accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf ‘Wolfie’ Mapelli Mozzi.

Prince Louis, six, couldn’t contain his glee as the young royal accepted boxes of Cadbury chocolates and stuffed animals from fans at Sandringham on Christmas morning.

Louis on Wednesday attended the special Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk estate with his parents, the Prince and Princess of Wales, and siblings, Prince George, 11 and Princess Charlotte, nine.

After the service, senior members of the Royal Family, including King Charles and Queen Camilla, greeted well-wishers – laden with gifts – who began arriving outside the church last evening.

Prince Louis looked visibly excited by the presents he received from members of the public – including a box of Cadbury’s chocolates, Christmas crackers, bouquets of flowers and an assortment of stuffed toys.

Princess Charlotte and Prince George also graciously accepted their presents, as they waved to the crowds while standing alongside their father, Prince William.

• Read the full story by Maanya Sachdeva and Monique Rubins here

The first people in a queue of well-wishers waiting to see members of the royal family walk to church on Christmas Day arrived on Tuesday and camped out overnight.

Retired chef John Loughrey (pictured), 69, from Wandsworth, South London, said he and Sky London travelled by train to King’s Lynn then took a bus, arriving at Sandringham in Norfolk at 7.30pm on December 24.

,We had sleeping bags with us and a heat pad,’ Mr Loughrey said.

It was a bit damp last night. We came here for Catherine. She’s been an inspiration the last year what she’s been through. We want to support her and her family.

Mr London, 64, from Paddington, central London, said:

If you’re a royalist and you love the royals you do anything.

They both brought flowers that they hoped to give to the Princess of Wales.

Complete with its own quirky traditions, Christmas is as special a time for the Royal Family, as it is for us all.

But the gathering for the Windsors is bigger than most.

Last week the Prince of Wales revealed he will be spending December 25 with no fewer than 45 people at Sandringham, his father’s private estate in Norfolk.

William told how he was looking forward to but was ‘not ready’ for the festive season while attending a seasonal event for families of 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment, in his role as colonel-in-chief, at Bulford, Wiltshire, on Tuesday.

He told one family: ‘Am I ready for Christmas? No, no way am I ready.’ William told others he was looking forward to spending it with 45 members of his family ‘all in one room’ but said they are ‘normally spread out’.

• Read the full story by David Wilkes here

Pregnant Princess Beatrice put on a stylish display as she stepped out at the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham today.

Looking effortlessly elegant, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s granddaughter joined other Royal Family members, such as King Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince and Princess of Wales for the occasion.

She was accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and her stepson Christopher Woolf ‘Wolfie’ Mapelli Mozzi.

Beatrice, 36, wore a tan coat over a black dress, with the daughter of Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson finishing her outfit with a pair of black knee-high boots.

Wolfie looked dapper in a grey jacket and navy trousers, while Edoardo embraced the festive spirit with a forest green tie.

• Read the full story by Jessica Green here

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis put on a smiling display today as they joined their parents and other members of the royal family for a special Christmas Day Church service in Sandringham.

George, 11, Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, accompanied the Prince and Princess of Wales to St Mary Magdalene Church on the Norfolk Estate for the traditional outing.

King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, were also in attendance.

George, who will start secondary school next year, was twinning with his father, Prince William in a navy coat and matching trousers, while his younger sister wore a dark green coat that was almost identical to Kate’s Alexander McQueen number.

Meanwhile, Prince Louis, who held firmly on to his mother’s hand, was also dressed smartly, wearing a coat, trousers, and a white shirt like his elder brother.

• Read the full story by Maanya Sachdeva and Monique Rubins here

Zara Tindall arrived alongside her husband Mike Tindall and their children as they joined the royals the Christmas Day service at Sandringham today.

The family were also joined by Zara’s brother Peter Philips as they were welcomed by fans of the royals who have been waiting near the church since yesterday evening.

Dressed in a plum-coloured long coat, she walked towards the service hand in hand with her daughter Lena Tindall, 6, with her niece Isla Phillips on her other side.

The couple’s older daughter Mia Tindall, 11, and her father Mike followed behind Prince William and Kate Middleton and their children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis.

• Read Robert Folker’s story here

Members of the royal family who walked to the service were greeted at the foot of the steps to the church by the Reverend Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.

They then headed inside and the National Anthem was sung before the first hymn, O Come, All Ye Faithful.

Crowds were given copies of the order of service, conducted at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham, conducted by the Rector Rev Canon Dr Paul Rhys Williams.

Hymns included O Come All Ye Faithful, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, While Shepherds Watched Their Flocks By Night, and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

The service also included The Lord’s Prayer.

These photographs show Princess Kate clutching flowers as she greeted well wishers outside church following the Christmas Day service.

The Princess of Wales has recently resumed royal engagements after receiving cancer treatment.

Here is the moment King Charles led senior royals as they arrived at Sandringham for the traditional Christmas Day service.

Princess Beatrice arrived at Sandringham earlier this morning with her father Prince Andrew not among the royals in attendance this year.

She was pictured at the church with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi.

The Duke of York has joined his family at Sandringham for the past two years but will this year spend Christmas with his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson at Royal Lodge, the home they share in Windsor.

It comes as Andrew faces renewed scrutiny over his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Kate Middleton and her children joined the King and Queen as they attended the Christmas Day service at Sandringham today.

The cheeky trio of children were welcomed by fans of the royals who have been waiting near the church since yesterday evening.

Charles, 76, and 77-year-old Queen Camilla walked the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church past a crowd of well-wishers.

They were joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children – Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis.

William walked hand in hand with Charlotte, and Kate who wore a green coat and hat smiled at the crowds.

Also in the walking party was the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.

• Read the full story by Chris Matthews here

Here’s the moment the Royal Family arrived at the church in Sandringham for the traditional Christmas Day service.

King Charles and Queen Camilla led the family closely followed by the Prince and Princess of Wales with their children George, Charlotte and Louis.

The Royal Family’s annual Christmas at Sandringham always produces a series of pictures of poise and tradition as they all walk to church together.

But behind the polished smiles, the festive season for the family has not always been merry.

Over the years, the private estate in Norfolk has been the scene of royal rows, awkward conversations and holiday surprises.

Now the Daily Mail’s Richard Eden has studied the photo evidence of the grand event in a special Christmas episode of the new YouTube series – Reading The Royals.

He takes viewers inside the drama, delights and secrets of the annual Christmas gathering, and reveals what really goes on behind the doors of Sandringham.

• Read Richard Eden’s story here

The Royal Family has treated fans to a behind-the-scenes glimpse of King Charles preparing to make his highly-anticipated Christmas Day speech.

The short clip shows the monarch, 76, standing in Fitzrovia Chapel as he straightens his tie and readies himself to address the country.

In a signature departure from tradition, His Royal Highness will deliver the broadcast from the former hospital chapel rather than on a royal estate, following his ongoing battle with cancer.

He will appear on TV screens on Wednesday to deliver his speech from the church, which once served as a chapel for Middlesex Hospital.

It marks the first time in 14 years that the King’s Speech has not been filmed on a royal estate.

• Read the full story by Olivia Allhusen here

We can now bring you more pictures of the crowds gathering today in Sandringham where the royals are attending the traditional Christmas Day church service.

The Princess of Wales has returned to screens to host her annual Together At Christmas carol concert after her toughest year yet.

The service, which was filmed at Westminster Abbey earlier this month, is Kate’s fourth annual Christmas Eve concert and was attended by members of the royal family including Prince William and their children George, Charlotte and Louis.

Kate bravely hosted crowds with a beaming smile on her face after an incredibly difficult year in which she has completed preventative chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

At the start of her annual carol concert, Kate called for people to ‘slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all’ and turn to ‘love, not fear’.

The broadcast of Kate’s service featured a special festive message from the royal, 42, in which she spoke about the importance of love and empathy.

• Read the full story by Eleanor Dye here

Sarah Ferguson has shared a Christmas message thanking everyone for their kindness and support this year as she walked the late Queen’s corgis.

The Duchess of York, wearing a black jacket and skirt, shared the video of her and the two dogs on her Instagram page on Christmas Eve.

In the video, the Duchess said the season was a time of reflection and offered ‘a huge embrace of goodness’ to all her supporters.

Her husband, Prince Andrew was gifted two of her late Majesty’s dogs on her death, yet the prince won’t walk any of them as he is too ‘demoralised’ by life.

It comes after the prince pulled out of joining the Royal Family for Christmas.

• Read the full story by Jose Ramos here

Prince William revealed last week he will spend Christmas with 45 members of his family ‘all in one room’.

Those invited to Sandringham can look forward to a mixture of the traditional and some festive fun of the Royal Family’s own making.

Members of The Firm open their presents on Christmas Eve in a nod to the family’s German origins.

They lay out their gifts on trestle tables and exchange them at teatime – and are known to enjoy giving each other novelty presents, typically buying things that are cheap and will make people laugh rather than spending a lot on big, lavish gifts.

The following day, the Royals attend the service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate, where they are greeted by well-wishers, before returning for a traditional lunch of roast turkey and all the trimmings.

They sit down ready to eat at 1.15pm sharp, according to Queen Elizabeth II’s former chef Darren McGrady, who catered for Christmas at Sandringham frequently in the 1980s and 1990s.

On Christmas night, they are said to play parlour games including charades and bingo.

Hello and welcome to MailOnline’s live coverage of the Royal Family on Christmas Day as crowds gather in Sandringham to catch a glimpse of King Charles.

Royal fans have been amassing in Norfolk since the early hours to see the family head to the traditional church service this morning.

The King and Queen will head to St Mary Magdalene Church accompanied by members of the Royal Family at 11am before Charles’ speech is broadcast to the nation this afternoon.

We will bring you the latest updates from the royals from throughout the day plus the best pictures and videos.