Prince Louis to take part in royal Christmas tradition for the very first time

Prince Louis will make a public appearance during the royal family's Christmas celebrations for the first time this year.

The four-year-old prince - who is the youngest son of Prince William and his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales - is expected to join his relatives on their traditional walk to St Mary Magdalene Church from Sandringham for the first time on 25 December, though a final decision won't be made until on the day, the Daily Mirror newspaper reports.

Louis' elder sister, seven-year-old Princess Charlotte, also made her debut on the festive walk when she was four years old in 2019, and she delighted well-wishers by greetings the crowds and even hugging some waiting members of the public.

The royal family have celebrated their festive season at the Norfolk estate since 1988 but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Queen Elizabeth - who died in September - remained at her Windsor Castle residence for Christmas in 2020 and 2021, but King Charles has opted to return to tradition this year.

Louis' father William - who also has nine-year-old son Prince George with his wife - previously admitted he and his cousins used to "get the giggles" during the church service when they were younger.

He said: “What’s very good about it is that we sit opposite each other as a family, and growing up, having my cousins sat opposite me has always been quite difficult to keep a straight face at times.

“I have had the giggles many, many times in the service.

“Luckily, no one’s filming it. So you can get away with it, and on Christmas Day, it’s fun to have a giggle and enjoy yourself.”

Louis famously stole the show at the queen's Platinum Jubilee celebrations earlier this year, with his mischievous antics including putting his hand over his mother's mouth to 'shush' her during the Platinum Party at the Palace concert and standing next to the queen with his hands clamped over his ears during a fly-past on the Buckingham Palace balcony.

William and Catherine later referenced the cheeky tot in an Instagram post reflecting on the celebrations.

The royal pair wrote: "We all had an incredible time, especially Louis ... " adding a side-eye emoji.

Meanwhile, King Charles, Queen Consort Camilla and other senior royals will spend Christmas at Sandringham for the first time in three years.

Buckingham Palace confirmed on Monday (19.12.22) Charles, 74, and his wife, 75, will celebrate Christmas Day at the late Queen Elizabeth’s Norfolk estate with other relatives in a return to one of their festive traditions.

It announced in a statement: “Their Majesties The King and The Queen Consort accompanied by Members of the Royal Family will attend the Morning Service on Christmas Day at Sandringham Church, on Sunday 25th December 2022.”

Mail Online reported after the statement was released it is likely Charles and Camilla will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Royal and her family, the Earl and Countess of Wessex and their children.

Speculation has been rife over whether the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be invited or make a public appearance with the royal family over Christmas, with one source saying Charles will extend the couple an invite despite the outrage over their Netflix show.

It comes after the couple used their six-part ‘Harry and Meghan’ series to say the royals were guilty of racial “unconscious basis”.

Prince Harry, 38, added in the series his older brother Prince William, 40, screamed at him over plans to quit the royals and move to America with his wife Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, 41.

The Covid pandemic led to the late Queen, who died aged 96 on September 8 at her Balmoral estate, spending Christmas at Windsor Castle two years in a row.

This year will mark the first time when the royals gather at Sandringham since 2019.

Royal Christmases usually include a morning visit to St Mary Magdalene Church, a family lunch and a gathering round the television to watch the monarch’s televised address to Britain.

Charles reportedly pre-recorded what will be his first Christmas broadcast as king.

- Bang! Showbiz