One's Christmas do: Healthy-looking Duchess of Cambridge is well enough to attend Firm's festive family lunch at Buckingham Palace
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She was said to have cancelled all
engagements this month so she could rest and recover from the bout of
severe morning sickness that left her hospitalised.
But there are some events that not even a convalescing Duchess of Cambridge can get out of - Firm commitments, you might say.
The Duchess, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, was seen today arriving at Buckingham Palace today to enjoy a pre-Christmas lunch with other members of the Royal family.
Fortunately she seems to have put the
worst of her illness behind her and looked in good health for the annual
event hosted by the the Queen to ensure those family members she
doesn’t have enough room for at Sandringham still get a chance to
celebrate in style.
Christmas itself is spent at the private Norfolk estate where her immediate family celebrates the festive season each year.
Unusually, the Duke and Duchess of
Cambridge arrived for today's gathering separately, William hitching a ride with his cousin
Lord Linley.
Sources said it was more than likely because they had come from different venues that morning – perhaps William was picking up some last minute Christmas presents at Linley’s eponymous Pimlico shop.
The couple were later seen being driven away together.
Yesterday the couple made a surprise appearance at their office Christmas party at a restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, showing that the pregnant Duchess is clearly on the mend after being hospitalised for three days with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition which causes severe sickness in pregnant women, earlier this month.
The prince, like the other male members of the Royal Family, was suited and booted to within an inch of his life.
William’s father, Prince Charles,
arrived with his beaming wife, the Duchess of Cornwall. Only his younger
son, Prince Harry, was absent as he will spend Christmas fighting on
the frontline in Afghanistan as an Apache attack helicopter pilot.
Princess Beatrice, wearing a floral dress, drove herself in without fanfare – although she still, contrary to reports, had a police protection officer in tow – as did her sister, Princess Eugenie.
Their father the Duke of York was also present but not, unsurprisingly, their mother Sarah, Duchess of York, who has been barred from family events for several years following a series of scandals.
Princess Michael of Kent, who celebrates her 68th birthday in January, looked astonishingly youthful as she smiled for the camera.
The royal, who is married to the Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, has admitted using botox in the past and once joked that ‘toyboys keep me young’.
Also present were the Earl and Countess and Wessex and their elder daughter, Lady Louise, a particular favourite of the Queen who even watches the children’s television channel CBeebies with her.
Princess Margaret’s daughter, Lady
Sarah Chatto was there with her brood, as was the Duke and Duchess of
Gloucester, the Duke of Kent and Princess Alexandra.
The reclusive Duchess of Kent did not appear to have accepted an invitation but her glamorous daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, was there with her art dealer husband Timothy.
The lunch lasted two hours with William and Kate leaving together this time. Eugenie was the first to head off with Charles and Camilla following shortly afterwards
The Queen is expected to leave for Sandringham, one of her favourite residences, after the lunch for an extended Christmas break with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Hopefully this year will be happier than the last, when elderly Philip was rushed to hospital for heart surgery shortly before his family was due to arrive.
In line with their German roots – and the fact that the Queen regards Christmas Day as a religious festival - the royals swap presents on Christmas Eve.
Everyone gathers in the White Drawing room at around 4pm where the Queen and the younger members of the family put the finishing touches to a Norfolk spruce cut from the 1,000-acre estate before exchanging gifts.
But there are some events that not even a convalescing Duchess of Cambridge can get out of - Firm commitments, you might say.
The Duchess, who is less than 12 weeks pregnant, was seen today arriving at Buckingham Palace today to enjoy a pre-Christmas lunch with other members of the Royal family.
Glowing: A smiling Duchess left the lunch with Prince William having arrived separately from her husband
Road to recovery: After being ill recently, the pregnant Duchess' beaming smile suggests she enjoyed her lunch at the palace
Pre-Christmas celebration: Prince Charles and wife Camilla are driven home in the rain
Heading home: Princess Eugenie was one of the first to leave after the two-hour lunch
Lone arrival: The Duchess was driven to the royal residence in a separate car to her husband Prince William
Picture of health: The Duchess looked like she is feeling better
Sources said it was more than likely because they had come from different venues that morning – perhaps William was picking up some last minute Christmas presents at Linley’s eponymous Pimlico shop.
The couple were later seen being driven away together.
Yesterday the couple made a surprise appearance at their office Christmas party at a restaurant in London’s Notting Hill, showing that the pregnant Duchess is clearly on the mend after being hospitalised for three days with hyperemesis gravidarum, a condition which causes severe sickness in pregnant women, earlier this month.
The prince, like the other male members of the Royal Family, was suited and booted to within an inch of his life.
Time for tea: Prince William looked smart in a
shirt and tie as he was driven to his grandmother's house in a different
car to his wife
Feeling festive: The Duchess of Cornwall beamed as she arrived with husband Prince Charles
Jolly good: The Prince also looked happy and waved to crowds outside the palace as they drove through the gates
Princess Beatrice, wearing a floral dress, drove herself in without fanfare – although she still, contrary to reports, had a police protection officer in tow – as did her sister, Princess Eugenie.
Their father the Duke of York was also present but not, unsurprisingly, their mother Sarah, Duchess of York, who has been barred from family events for several years following a series of scandals.
Princess Michael of Kent, who celebrates her 68th birthday in January, looked astonishingly youthful as she smiled for the camera.
The royal, who is married to the Queen’s cousin, Prince Michael of Kent, has admitted using botox in the past and once joked that ‘toyboys keep me young’.
Also present were the Earl and Countess and Wessex and their elder daughter, Lady Louise, a particular favourite of the Queen who even watches the children’s television channel CBeebies with her.
Princess on board: Eugenie was driven to the festive family lunch
Independent: While Princess Beatrice decided to drive herself
Behind the wheel: Sophie, Countess of Wessex, also drove her family
The reclusive Duchess of Kent did not appear to have accepted an invitation but her glamorous daughter, Lady Helen Taylor, was there with her art dealer husband Timothy.
The lunch lasted two hours with William and Kate leaving together this time. Eugenie was the first to head off with Charles and Camilla following shortly afterwards
The Queen is expected to leave for Sandringham, one of her favourite residences, after the lunch for an extended Christmas break with her husband, the Duke of Edinburgh.
Hopefully this year will be happier than the last, when elderly Philip was rushed to hospital for heart surgery shortly before his family was due to arrive.
In line with their German roots – and the fact that the Queen regards Christmas Day as a religious festival - the royals swap presents on Christmas Eve.
Everyone gathers in the White Drawing room at around 4pm where the Queen and the younger members of the family put the finishing touches to a Norfolk spruce cut from the 1,000-acre estate before exchanging gifts.
Dressed in Wednesday best: Prince Michael of Kent and his glamorous wife arrived together
Lunch with the in-laws: Actress Sophie Winkleman, married to Prince Michael of Kent's son Freddie, also attended
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