Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, remain a major attraction for members of the public who traditionally gather to watch the family walk to church on Christmas morning.
The King’s youngest brother, Prince Edward, is anticipated to join the celebrations with Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
Their children, James, Viscount Severn, 17, and Lady Louise Windsor, 22, are also expected to take part in the family gathering.
Princess Anne’s household will once again make up a sizeable block at the table.
Her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, will attend alongside Zara and Mike Tindall and their three children, Mia, 11, Lena, seven, and Lucas, four.
Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, is also expected with his daughters Savannah and Isla.
Peter announced his engagement to Harriet Sperling earlier this year, and with the long-standing rule restricting unmarried partners now relaxed, she is likely to be invited.
She has already met senior royals, including the King and Queen, at events such as Royal Ascot.
Princess Beatrice attended the Sandringham gathering in 2024 with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, her stepson Christopher Woolf, nine, and daughter Sienna, four.
This year, she has an eight-month-old daughter, Athena, but is believed to be spending the festive period abroad with friends to avoid tension linked to her parents’ situation.
She is daughter to the King’s younger brother and former Duke of York Andrew Mount-batten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.
Her sister Princess Eugenie, her husband Jack Brooksbank, and their sons August, four, and Ernest, two, remain welcome at Sandringham.
Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, 50, is expected again after joining the family for the first time in 2024 alongside his children Lola, 17, and Freddy, 15.
Speaking to the Daily Telegraph after Camilla recovered from pneumonia and the King faced a cancer diagnosis, he said: “My mum said, ‘I’d love you to come, I haven’t had Christmas with you for a long time.’”
He added that ageing made him “more conscious” of mortality, especially in light of illness.
Bowlers’ sister Laura Lopes, her husband Harry, and their children Eliza, 15, and twins Gus and Louis, 14, are also likely to attend.
Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot, who serves as one of the Queen’s Companions, is usually part of the gathering as well.
Extended relatives from Princess Margaret’s family are regular attendees.
Lady Sarah Chatto, her husband Daniel, and their sons Samuel, 29, and Arthur, 26, are expected, with Samuel possibly accompanied by his girlfriend Eleanor Ekserdjian as he was in 2024.
Lady Sarah’s brother, David Armstrong-Jones, 2nd Earl of Snowdon, is also expected with his children Lady Margarita, 23, and Charles, 26.
One notable absence will be the Duke and Duchess of Sussex: Prince Harry and Meghan, along with their children Archie, six, and Lilibet, four.
Despite improvements in communication, including Prince Harry’s short meeting with the King in September, it remains unlikely they will return to Sandringham this year.
Also missing are Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson, who have been excluded following continuing scrutiny over their links to Jeffrey Epstein.
This marks the second consecutive year they have not been invited.
Royal Christmas strict schedule
The royal Christmas schedule at Sandringham remains tightly organised.
Family members arrive on Christmas Eve and follow a detailed timetable that includes formal meals, outfit changes, afternoon walks and the long-standing tradition of guests being weighed on antique scales.
According to royal writer Robert Jobson, punctuality is essential, and guests are expected to keep strictly to the schedule.
“There is no grace period,” Jobson told HELLO!.
“After completing the odd custom, dating back to Edward VII, of being weighed on antique jockey’s scales, guests are on the clock.”
Christmas lunch features traditional dishes and luxury crackers, and, as Jobson notes, “Everyone, even the King, wears paper hats from inside the crackers.”
by SHARON MWENDE
