Royal family 15-16 December: King Charles hosts pre-Christmas royal reunion, more

Princess Beatrice is without a doubt one of the best-dressed royals, and one fashion genre she does very well is sequins - and she has perfected the party dress aesthetic. 

With the festive period in full swing, HELLO!'s Fashion and Beauty News Editor Laura Sutcliffe has taken a look back at Beatrice's best dresses. Check it out here. 

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Charles Spencer has shared a glimpse inside the evening carol service held at the Spencer family home, Althorp House, in West Northamptonshire. 

The photo shows a group of carol singers standing in front of a grand, Christmas tree, which is beautifully decorated in fairy lights and festive baubles, under two spectacular chandeliers. 

Check it out below. 

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According to The Sun, King Charles is reportedly relocating Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor from the 30-room Royal Lodge to Marsh Farm on the Sandringham estate in 2026. While the new residence is more modest, featuring two reception rooms and several outbuildings, it represents a significant financial commitment for the King.

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Because Sandringham is privately owned, Charles can bypass public scrutiny regarding rental agreements. It is believed that the monarch intends to cover all associated costs personally, allowing Andrew to live there as an "ordinary citizen". 

Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, husband to Princess Beatrice and founder of Banda Property, recently showcased his interior design expertise on Instagram. He shared a glimpse of a meticulously renovated living space featuring vaulted ceilings and curved furniture.

The standout feature was a Greco-Roman bust, a "naked" sculpture that adds a Renaissance touch to the modern room. This blend of heritage and contemporary style is a hallmark of luxury design, mirroring the grandeur of Buckingham Palace, which houses similar sculptures of Mars and Venus. Edoardo's aesthetic highlights a growing trend of balancing historic art with high-end, modern living.

Earlier today, Princess Ingrid Alexandra and her brother Prince Sverre Magnus of Norway enjoyed a rare joint outing.

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In photographs published by the Norwegian TV channel, TV 2 Live, the children of Prince Haakon and Princess Mette Marit were seen visiting the Fire and Rescue Service in Oslo. 

The pair were given a tour of the station before finessing a slide down the fire pole and dressing in full fire equipment. 

While Ingrid Alexandra is currently home for the Christmas break from her studies in Australia, her brother is back from Milan, where he is currently exploring opportunities in film and photography. 

Earlier today, Prince William showcased a relaxed, off-duty dad style in a new video featuring football legend Jill Scott. Commemorating the centenary of Fields in Trust, a charity dedicated to protecting green spaces, William dressed in a casual navy ensemble paired with leather trainers.

The duo was filmed strolling through Windlesham Field of Remembrance Park, highlighting the vital work of the charity. As patron, William's appearance underscores the importance of safeguarding nearly 3,000 parks and playgrounds across the UK, ensuring these essential community spaces are preserved for future generations to enjoy.

On 15 December, Queen Mary of Denmark embraced festive elegance at the Into Change Awards in Copenhagen. The 53-year-old royal opted for a sophisticated black velvet suit, featuring an unbuttoned single-breasted blazer and tailored trousers. 

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She layered the ensemble with a sleek satin camisole, adding a touch of holiday glamour to the scientific ceremony.

Completing the look, Mary wore Gianvito Rossi's iconic 'Gianvito 105' satin pumps, a staple favoured by fellow royals like the Princess of Wales. The choice provided a statuesque silhouette, perfectly balancing modern style with the prestigious atmosphere of the Opera House event.

Kate Middleton, The Princess of Wales and Princess Catharina Amalia of the Netherlands had a 'spot-the-difference' style moment recently, and everyone missed it!

Kate joined King Charles and Queen Camilla in welcoming German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier for a three-day state visit. Kate dazzled in a custom Jenny Packham gown, highlighting her preference for bespoke tailoring that ensures a flawless, flattering fit.

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Interestingly, the caped blue silhouette mirrored a look worn by Princess Catharina-Amalia on 10 December 2024. During a Portuguese state visit to Amsterdam, the Dutch heiress wore a strikingly similar shimmering gown. Despite the uncanny resemblance between the two royal ensembles, the coincidence largely escaped public notice until Kate's recent appearance sparked a stylish "double-take."

Prince William And Kate led the arrivals as members of the royal family attended a pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace earlier today. 

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The lunch was hosted by King Charles. Stay tuned as we bring you all the photos.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie were also in attendance at the pre-Christmas royal lunch at Buckingham Palace.

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The princesses got into the festive spirit with Beatrice behind the wheel while Eugenie donned a pair of candy cane earrings.

Prince Edward, The Duke of Edinburgh was in the driving seat as he arrived at the pre-Christmas lunch with his daughter, Lady Louise Windsor and wife, Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh.

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Lady Louise returned home for the festive season from her studies at St Andrew's University in Scotland.

Princess Anne made an appearance alongside her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence.

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We love Anne's addition of a red lip as she got into the festive spirit at the lunch held at Buckingham Palace by her brother, the King.

Lady Helen Taylor was also seen arriving, wearing a lovely tan coat and magenta plaid scarf.

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This year will be a bittersweet Christmas for Lady Helen as it will be the first one after the passing of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, on 4 September.

Sophie, The Duchess of Edinburgh looked elegant as she arrived at the pre-Christmas lunch.

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She teamed a checked brown coat with a gorgeous pop of colour. Her fine knit sweater came in a lovely Christmas-tree green hue - how festive!

Royals from all generations gathered at Buckingham Palace for King Charles' pre-Christmas lunch today.

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The late Queen's cousin, Princess Alexandra, was seen waving from her car, having enjoyed the festive get-together.

Royals from the extended family were also invited by King Charles to enjoy a pre-Christmas lunch at the palace.

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Flora Vesterberg, the granddaughter of Princess Alexandra and the late Sir Angus Ogilvy, was seen arriving with her husband, Timothy Vesterberg, who works in private equity in London.

Nestled within a 13,000-acre Northamptonshire estate, the Grade I-listed Althorp House is renowned as the childhood home of Princess Diana. Her brother, Earl Spencer, currently manages the historic property and frequently offers glimpses of its grandeur online.

While followers are familiar with the iconic front exterior and manicured driveway, Charles shared a rare photograph of the house's back view earlier today. 

"Today is so dreary and grey - so let's enjoy these sunnier, winter, photographs of @althorphouse from last year instead," Charles captioned the photo. "This is the house's northern, rear view - enjoying much cleaner lines than the better-known front courtyard."

The Grand Duke of Luxembourg and his wife, Grand Duchess Stephanie, are getting in the Christmas spirit, having released their 2025 Christmas card today.

© Grand Duke's Household, Luxembourg / Kary Barthelmey

The 2025 festive photo, which was captured by Kary Barthelmey, shows the couple with their adorable sons. Prince Charles was born on 10 May 10, 2020 and is the heir apparent, while Prince François was born on 27 March 2023.

Guillaume V took over as Grand Duke of Luxembourg on 3 October 2025 after his father, Grand Duke Henri, abdicated.

Ahead of his first Christmas without his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away aged 92 in September, the Duke of Kent joined members of the royal family for a festive lunch at Buckingham Palace. 

The 90-year-old first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth II was photographed arriving at the palace on December 16 with his daughter-in-law, Sylvana Tomaselli in the backseat of a vehicle. See photos here. 

It's a sad day for members of the royal family, including Princess Anne, Prince William and Prince Harry, as Dame Shan Legge-Bourke has sadly passed away.

The Dame, who died at the age of 82, was the mother to Prince William and Harry's nanny, Tiggy Pettifer, and often hosted the young princes at her Glanusk estate in Wales. Tiggy is even godmother to Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's son, Archie, so Dame Shan was likely a presence in the Duke of Sussex's life up until the present day.

Read more about her life and legacy here. 

The new year is on the horizon, and His Majesty King Charles III has already received the good news that he will have reduced cancer treatment in 2026,    a big positive going into the new year. 

Plus there is another piece of good news in the royal camp – tickets for Buckingham Palace's iconic East Wing have now gone on sale!

The extensive reservicing works at the iconic royal residence are a 10-year project, due to be completed in 2027, but luckily for visitors, the East Wing is one of the areas where renovations are already finished. Get more details here.

We are signing off for now, but make sure to check in with tomorrow's live blog for more ongoing royal coverage throughout the week from us at HELLO!

Cheers!