King Charles and Queen Camilla brave the cold in their first public appearances of 2026

Lewis Henderson

By Lewis Henderson


Published: 04/01/2026

- 15:04

The couple spoke to well-wishers who ventured out to see the royals

King Charles and Queen Camilla wrapped up to brace the cold for a church service at St Mary Magdalene in Sandringham.

The couple interacted with members of the public who came to see the royal pair on their first outing since Christmas.


The King appeared in good spirits despite the freezing temperatures as he shared a laugh with Rev Canon Dr Paul Williams.

Charles donned a thick, smart brown coat to brace the -1C weather and a pair of matching gloves.

King Charles, Queen CamillaThe King and Queen wrapped up as they braced the cold | PA
King Charles

Charles spotted photographers on his way to church

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PA

Camilla suited up in a cream coat dress and suede knee-high boots alongside a fur-trim hat.

The King even made a note of pointing towards photographers who journeyed out to grab a snap of the monarch.

Their appearance came after leading the Royal Family on Christmas morning at St Mary Magdalene for the traditional festive church service.

Members of the family gathered in Norfolk for one of the most recognisable moments of the royal calendar.

King Charles, Queen Camilla

Well-wishers greeted the royal couple on their way to church

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PA

King Charles, Queen Camilla

His Majesty shared a laugh with Rev Canon Dr Paul Williams

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PA

These included Prince William and Princess Kate, and their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven.

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson were absent, having been engulfed in scandal after their highly publicised features in the Epstein files.

The Sandringham church walk remains the monarchy's most prominent annual Christmas appearance outside the King's Christmas broadcast.

It is a fixture that blends public visibility with private family tradition: the royals attend church on the estate, greet well-wishers and then return to Sandringham House for the rest of the day's celebrations.

King Charles

The King had a discussion with a youngster on a bike

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Christmas at Sandringham also operates to a long-established rhythm.

Members of the Royal Family typically arrive in Norfolk ahead of Christmas Day for the family gathering, with Sandringham then serving as a base for the holiday period.

The church service itself is a familiar centrepiece, and it has repeatedly been treated as a barometer moment by royal watchers because it offers a clear view of which relatives are spending Christmas with the monarch.

The King and Queen's presence also comes at the end of a week which saw royal coverage dominated by seasonal broadcasting and Christmas messaging.

King Charles

It was the first appearance from Charles and Camilla in 2026

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PA

This included Princess Kate's Together at Christmas carol service, filmed in December at Westminster Abbey and aired on Christmas Eve.

The programme placed its emphasis on community support and quiet acts of service, themes which sit alongside the more traditional symbolism of Sandringham's Christmas Day service.

After the church service, the Royal Family returned to Sandringham House to continue Christmas Day privately.

The King's Christmas broadcast later in the afternoon remains the other defining public moment of the day, with the message historically used by the sovereign to reflect on the year and speak to the country and the Commonwealth.

This year's speech was filmed at Westminster Abbey and focused on the theme of pilgrimage.