Karen Anvil, a royal fan who has attended Sandringham on Christmas Day for eight years, has explained why she chose to call out to Princess Beatrice as the royal walked into St Mary Magdalene Church.
Ms Anvil's video footage from Sandringham went viral on Christmas Day, showing the fan tell the Princess of York: “I'm so glad you came!”
The mother-of-two appeared to respond: “Oh, that's very kind, thank you.”
Speaking exclusively to GB News, Ms Anvil said she noticed a “clear shift” in Princess Beatrice’s demeanour compared with previous years, prompting what she described as an instinctive response.
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“I called out to Princess Beatrice because, in that moment, she appeared under pressure and guarded, and it felt instinctively right to offer kindness rather than scrutiny,” she said.
Ms Anvil explained that she has photographed Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, for many years, including before their marriage, and has followed their relationship closely.
“I have watched their relationship and blended family grow, including Edoardo’s son being part of their lives,” she said.
“They are a genuinely warm and loving family.”
Royal fan reveals why she spoke to Princess Beatrice during Sandringham walk after 'clear shift'
|GETTY
She said the exchange was brief and took place as Princess Beatrice continued walking into the church.
Ms Anvil added: “Having seen them year after year, I noticed a clear shift as they walked into the church.
“It was not about attention or reaction. It was about acknowledging a human moment.”
Ms Anvil also noted that what stood out to her was the response she observed after she spoke.
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Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice pictured beside Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi | REUTERS“What mattered was not what was said verbally, but the visible softening in her expression when she realised the comment was kind and sincere,” she said.
Princess Beatrice attended the Christmas Day service alongside her husband, with members of the public lining the route to watch the Royal Family arrive.
Ms Anvil stressed that her actions were motivated by empathy rather than publicity.
“What happened was not about creating a story,” she said.
Edoardo and Beatrice attending church on Christmas Day | PAPrincess Beatrice and her sister, Princess Eugenie, surprised royal fans by attending Sandringham with King Charles on Christmas Day, an event not attended by their parents, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
The former duke and duchess became embroiled in scandals primarily centred on their ties to the late convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, leading to their unprecedented removal from public life in late 2025.
It was previously reported that Beatrice, 37, would jet abroad with Mr Mapelli Mozzi to avoid all the drama.
However, this was proven to be untrue on Christmas Day when the couple stepped out in Norfolk with the Royal Family.