Quelle surprise, the Prince and Princess of Wales are not going to today’s pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. I figured as much when all of the reporting started this week about the lunch. In 2022 and 2023, King Charles switched up his mother’s long-standing habit of hosting the lunch at Buckingham Palace. Charles hosted it at Windsor Castle, and the lunch was well-attended, although I still believe that William and Kate skipped the lunch in 2022 and 2023. There was no reporting about their absence, probably because most people assumed that since they “live” at Adelaide Cottage, it would have been easy enough for them to slip into the castle. They did not – they were already in Norfolk in 2022 and 2023. That’s where they are right now, and they’re not taking the helicopter back to London for today’s lunch.
The Prince and Princess of Wales will not join the rest of the Royal family for its traditional pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace today. The couple and their three children are already in Norfolk, where they will spend the festive period at their country home, Amner Hall.
The decision not to attend the lunch was made some time ago, according to a Kensington Palace source. The couple are said to be looking forward to spending time with the family as usual at Sandringham over Christmas.
It is thought to be the first time the Waleses have opted not to join the wider family at the annual event, which offers the monarch a chance to gather together those who are not invited to Sandringham.
It comes after Prince Andrew pulled out of the lunch, a highlight in the royal calendar, after becoming embroiled in a scandal over an alleged Chinese spy.
“It is thought to be the first time the Waleses have opted not to join the wider family at the annual event.” I swear it isn’t the first time. It’s the third time by my count, although it’s possible they also skipped a few lunches when QEII was alive. I’ve believed for years that William and Kate aren’t very popular within the family, and I would honestly imagine that the wider family will probably enjoy the lunch more in the Waleses’ absence. That being said, it’s yet another thing that William refuses to do. When Charles was Prince of Wales, he believed (correctly) that it was his duty and responsibility to always attend these kinds of family events.
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- London, United Kingdom -18/09/2022. Prince George and his sister Charlotte are seen in a car with their Mother Kate the Princess of Wales and the Queen Consort as it follows the cortčge of the late Queen Elizabeth the II is pulled past the Houses of Parliament after her funeral at Westminster Abbey, Westminster.,Image: 724154458, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: -, Model Release: no, Credit line: Joshua Bratt / Avalon
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- State visit by The Amir of the State of Qatar, Ceremonial Welcome by The King and Queen, Horse Guards Parade London 3 December 2024,Image: 942415676, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Heathcliff O’Malley for the Telegraph/Avalon/Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 03: Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, Prince of Wales arrive in a carriage at Buckingham Palace during day one of The Amir of the State of Qatar’s visit to the United Kingdom on December 03, 2024 in London, England. His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, accompanied by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani, will hold several engagements with The Prince and Princess of Wales, The King and Queen as well as political figures.,Image: 942433347, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson/Avalon/Avalon
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- Prince William sits inside the carriage ahead of the Emir of Qatar’s Ceremonial Welcome, Horse Guards Parade Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani State Visit to London, UK – 03 Dec 2024,Image: 942433801, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock/Avalon/Avalon
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- Prince William and Catherine Princess of Wales ahead of the Emir of Qatar’s Ceremonial Welcome, Horse Guards Parade Emir of Qatar, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani State Visit to London, UK – 03 Dec 2024,Image: 942438578, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Victoria Jones/Shutterstock/Avalon/Avalon
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- The Mall, London, UK. 3rd December 2024. TRHs, Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William, ride a horse drawn carriage along The Mall on the first full day of the The Amir of the State of Qatar, His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, accompanied by Her Highness Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al Thani State Visit to the United Kingdom.,Image: 942446088, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: Supplied by AVALON – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Photo by Amanda Rose/Avalon/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales stands next to Prince William, Prince of Wales, as Qatari Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani and his wife Sheikha Jawaher bint Hamad bin Suhaim Al-Thani visit Buckingham palace in London, Britain, December 3, 2024. REUTERS/Mina,Image: 942538766, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Mina Kim/Avalon/Avalon
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- MccLi0012021 . Daily Telegraph NMA ROTA !! DT News Catherine, Princess of Wales State visit by The Amir of the State of Qatar, Ceremonial Welcome by The King and Queen, Horse Guards Parade London 3 December 2024,Image: 942538814, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Heathcliff O’Malley for the Telegraph/Avalon/Avalon
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- Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, reacts at Westminster Abbey on the day of the “Together At Christmas” carol service, in London, Britain, December 6, 2024.,Image: 943708401, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Isabel Infantes/Avalon/Avalon
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- Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis walk to attend the “Together At Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey in London, Britain, December 6, 2024.,Image: 943708434, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Isabel Infantes/Avalon/Avalon
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- London, UNITED KINGDOM – The British Royals leaving Buckingham Palace for Xmas lunch with HRH The Queen. Pictured: Prince William – Catherine Duchess of Cambridge – Kate Middleton – Princess Charlotte BACKGRID USA 18 DECEMBER 2019 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- The Prince and Princess of Wales leave Buckingham Palace, central London, on day one of the President of South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol’s state visit to the UK. Featuring: Catherine, Princess of Wales and William, Prince of Wales Where: London, United Kingdom When: 21 Nov 2023 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
Curiouser and curiouser said Alice.
Who really gives a f**k that they didn’t want to do another event together even if it was just lunch.
Charles invited 45 people to Sandringham. They will see everyone on Monday so why bother going back into the city, especially if the helicopter is already booked.
I don’t think that it’s the same 45 people though. A few overlaps sure. These are more of the extended family that according to Becky English didn’t make the cut for sandringham. So it does kind of show how he has a different attitude towards the extended family than the queen did. Or it’s simply not wanting to be near Charles idk?
Genuine question: why does that even matter? I can’t believe this makes it into the papers in 🇬🇧! Jesus Christ, such a waste of paper …. I wonder who is the audience of such nonsense
My exact thoughts. How insane that it’s news whether his majesty attend a luncheon. Honestly this should be far beneath the interest of any reasonable adult.
It matters because of what it reveals, namely that there is a rift between Charles and William. It also shows that William is uninterested in putting up appearances which must make the courtiers very nervous. Interesting times ahead for the monarchy lol.
Ordinarily, it’s news when people actually accomplish something. But with W&K, it’s news that they refuse to do anything.
Charles was a better POW. I wouldn’t be surprised if William is the last King.
Truly. It’s news only because England’s dynastic state sponsored billionaire can’t be arsed to go to a function hosted by the other state sponsored billionaire. Truly embarrassing and pathetic.
The Queen did the Christmas lunch at BP for the family members who weren’t attending Sandringham for decades. Charles attended as Prince of wales (and Diana when they were not separated).
Prior to the whole sliming down, the extended family attended engagements on behalf of the Queen which was helped to justify the enormous amount they get from the taxpayers and this was a thank you for those who did that.
For William to skip this lunch is just rude. Many of the ones attending this lunch are doing more engagements than William and definitely Kate and these two are too ignorant to show up to the lunch. It’s not like William is afraid to use the helicopter once they are in Norfolk. You can bet he has already.
yes – agreed. When you look at it from the perspective of the monarch thanking the extended family who all do various appearances on their behalf, william and kate skipping yet again is just rude. I mean even Zara Phillips attended a garden party this year to help out. Beatrice and Eugenie attended one as well, went to Kate’s stupid christmas concert etc. The Kents and gloucesters work more than the Waleses even when they aren’t experiencing a health crisis. W&K should go to say thank you and to give the impression that this is still a large extended family, not just a toxic working institution.
They are not together and the family knows it. They did that cancer free hype video and that family definitely sides eyed the shit out of them for it. But they still want access to them for Willys future reign. That’s why they keep trotting Shrek and his footballer friend to talk shit about Harry and Meghan. Frauds the lot of them.
Spot on.
It’s as clear as day!
That BS video seems ages ago, but this lunch would probably be the first time WanK saw many of these people since the video’s release. And I’m sure Peg in particular is humiliated about it.
LOL! Yes, he looked like a hostage victim during that pathetic Kate-a-thon. Carole must really have some dirt on him.
Kate and William were seen together for their PR stunt with the dying child at Windsor. That sounded it was put together at the last minute, though.
Perhaps it speaks to the fact that one of the few things William and Harry can agree on these days is disdain for their stepmother? What is their relationship with their stepsiblings? Maybe William isn’t too happy about Camilla’s family descending en masse this year.
Agreed Miranda.
Neither of Charles children like him or his wife.
Out of curiosity, why aren’t the royal reporters acting as if the world stopped spinning on its axis? When the king’s younger son didn’t participate in family events, reams of artivles were written about it.
If this is the first, second, or third time the Wailes are skipping this lunch: Why? KC and W seem not so close: Why? And considering the Andrew scandals sucking up oxygen: Distancing from finacial crimes/ malafide foreign influence?
Yeah where’s the outrage? I remember the press being extremely upset when Harry and Meghan decided to skip Christmas in 2019.
Guess the outrage is missing bc the press is protecting the heirs?
Catherine is focusing on things that bring her joy! Apparently, not this 😹
She ought to be focusing on real life. Especially the lives of those who are going to be her subjects, not my King and Queen, neither are C & C
I imagine some of the extended family members reached out to WanK when they heard about her illness. Some of them even trudged along to her embiggening carole service but it seems that neither W nor K can be bothered to show their appreciation by sitting down to lunch with these people. WanK are once again showing how self-absorbed and entitled they are.
Shocking behaviour.
W may be in Norfolk, but KM will be with her parents elsewhere. God knows where the children are.
There is no excuse for William skipping this lunch. These extended family members are doing more engagements than him and not getting the credit. Kate shovel be there too. Until there is a separation announcement she is the second highest woman after Camilla.
Agree @nic919, it’s a lack of graciousness and gratitude.
william mostly goes solo anyway.
I’ve always believed that the rest of the family disliked William and Kate. The press made a big deal about the cousins being at the garden party that he hosted but I believe they were told that they had to be there just like Kate’s Christmas concert.
They were hopefully paid to put in an appearance. Some must have decided not even for the money.
I agree that the family seems to dislike W&K, with the possible exception of Zara and Mike.
But I think the family likes Charles for all his faults, so I can see Beatrice and Eugenie attending things like the garden party because Charles asked them to.
The only two people who really matter in this are Charles and William, not their wives who will do whatever their husbands say….I think Charles’ requirement to not be upstaged fits William’s requirement not to “work” to a tee, so it’s the perfect arrangement for both
And the press just glosses over this and instead we will get 50 articles about the Sussex photo.
Kate wanted to bang a prince and William wanted to get laid. Now here they are, miserable because they both won’t grow up and let go.
The Windsors are done, period. Sad but true.
The third year for a Wales no show at the Christmas lunch. It’s showing a power struggle between monarch and heir and a foreshadow of William’s reign. It should end with Charles.
Tit for tat for Charles and Camilla not showing up at Carols? Or Charles and Camilla didn’t show up at Carols because William and Kate didn’t come to lunch for the past two years?
How disrespectful that William can’t be bothered to take a quick helicopter ride to attend this lunch. It’s his duty. I wonder what kind of 💩 went down behind the scenes to get this event excused.
Duty?! William doesn’t care about duty, just the status and the cash. Oh, and trying to compete with his brother. He knows he can get away with anything because his own father is not that popular. Besides, he’s not above playing the Diana card, if he’s called out! Abolish this farce of a monarchy!
And it doesn’t even need to be a helicopter ride. He and Kate and the kids could have gone to London for a few days after school let out, since they still have KP1A, and then gone to Anmer after that.
I’m here for the disrespectful way William continues to treat his dad, the king. It’s so apparent that William refuses to show the current monarch a modicum of the respect he showed for his grandmother, the late queen. One wonders if William is trying to hasten the demise of the British monarchy, so that he won’t be pestered by those silly responsibilities but will instead be able to live his life as a country gentleman?
I have the impression that William has always disrespected Charles. Harry was able to escape, but William’s position makes it impossible for him to get away – so, this is his way of creating distance.
I second. Let William’s disrespect for Charles flow over every royal event for all to see. I would love to see the Wales’ skip Sandringham and the church walk altogether, and for Peg to keep talking to the press about how different his reign will be.
Hmm. At least absence isn’t being explained away due to health reasons. Or school runs.
LOL, exactly. We see those constantly , don’t we? What a farce!
Oh, you know they would if they could! What makes me chuckle is the detail that “the Wales are already in Anmer” as if that means they couldn’t possibly go anywhere else.
Exactly! They could be anywhere ! And certainly, not together…we haven’t seen them for a while so they probably enjoy warm holidays somewhere else… it’s not a coincidence that the BM have 50+articles for the Sussex but there is a radio silence about the Wales skipping lunch in BP. At this point, they seem to avoid each other ( the Wales and Charles and Camilla). There’s a war between the 2 palaces but nobody reports it…
I guess attending Christmas lunch is one of the things that causes Kate’s cancer to flare up.
I’ve just seen the Wales released their Christmas photo today..Coincidence? Of course not…they had to give something to the press to appease them
I don’t ever want to hear one f- word out of any rota rat mouth again about how Harry knows his father is sick and isn’t spending time with him . Wank also knows he is sick . Wank gets millions of tax payers dollars for all this show boat shit and he can’t get in his helicopter Which is available around the Clock for him and take him and his lazy ass wife to eat lunch? Let’s be honest. They are no longer together and don’t want to play the game at these gatherings Least someone accidentally lets it slip . Best to keep the witness to this marriage charade down. On a petty note . Chuck only cares about cams so he deserves to have no one attend his show .chuck should have treated his kids better and they would want to spend time with him .
I was curious about when they attended the Buckingham holiday lunch and luckily for us, What Kate Wore has documented all of this. It was just a matter of pulling up their archives through every December which was easy to do lol. I didn’t look up every single year from 2011 (the year they married) to present day but for the years I did look up they attended most years until 2019 when the Queen was still alive. After that, it wasn’t held in 2020 or 2021 due to the pandemic and Kate and William haven’t attended it since Charles became the monarch (2022 or 2023). It seems William attended mostly out of a sense of duty and affection for his grandmother but after his dad became king he didn’t give a d@mn and they haven’t been back since. I have to assume it’s a family dynamics thing. I doubt William will continue the tradition once he’s king!