Princess of Wales chats to well-wishers about their experiences with cancer

After a year in which the Princess of Wales and the King faced cancer diagnoses and treatments, the Royal family could be forgiven for wanting all thoughts of illness at the back of their minds this Christmas.

But the Princess appeared to give special attention to the well-wishers at Sandringham who came with their stories of surviving cancer.

The Princess beamed as she joined her family at the Church of St Mary Magdalene, on the King’s Norfolk estate, for the Christmas Day service.

She and the Prince of Wales, alongside their three children, attended the traditional Mattins on Wednesday morning to sing hymns, pray and light candles.

After the short service concluded, the Princess was seen spending extra time meeting with members of the public who had felt the effects of cancer themselves.

She enveloped 73-year-old Karen Maclean from North Lincolnshire into a warm hug when the pair spoke during the walkabout.

After the emotional scene, Ms MacLean, who said she had had “20 years of cancer”, said she had discussed her experience of the disease with both the King and the Princess.

“We just had a little talk about cancer, really,” she said.

“I’ve met the King before. He said to me ‘I can remember you’, I’m thinking ‘what!’, like many years ago?”

She said it was a “privilege” to hug the Princess, and that both royals seemed “very well actually, considering what they’re going through”.

The Princess, who is on a journey back to a full public and private life after what her husband described as a “brutal” year, also met two sisters whose grandmother died of cancer earlier this year.

Nicola Halligan and Laura Mather from Warrington, Cheshire, had never been to Sandringham to see the Royal family but felt the need to come this Christmas.

Ms Mather, 41, said: “We’ve come down because my nan was a massive royal fan and she passed away in May so we thought it would be nice to be here.”

The pair had been on the royal estate since 5am and had brought a bouquet to give to the Princess.

Asked what lessons families with loved ones living with cancer could learn from the Princess’s experience, Ms Halligan, 45, said: “They’re a normal family, exactly the same as the rest of us. It can happen to anyone at any time.

“Look at the way she keeps going and the way she’s so positive. She’s a leading example to people in this country and we’re lucky to have her as the next Queen.”

The Prince walked hand in hand with Princess Charlotte, nine, while the Princess spoke to the gathered well-wishers for so long that she joked to one she had “lost her family”.

The Princess, who wore a green Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and hat, beamed at the crowds – who had gathered in the hundreds – as she collected bouquets and shook their hands.

Meanwhile, the Wales children looked to be enjoying themselves as they joined the traditional Christmas walkabout with their parents.

Prince Louis, six, in particular, received an armful of gifts and seemed to end up collecting more chocolates and trinkets than he could carry.

Princess Charlotte was spotted posing for selfies after being asked by members of the public.

This year, Princess Beatrice also joined the rest of the Royal family for Christmas after being advised not to travel while heavily pregnant.

The Princess, 36, who is due to give birth in early spring, had initially planned to spend the festive period abroad with her husband and his family before being advised against it by her medical team.

Instead, she joined the walkabout wearing a specially chosen coat designed by students on The King’s Foundation Modern Artisan programme for Net-a-Porter.

The decision was unconnected to the furore surrounding her father, the Duke of York, and his involvement in a Chinese spy scandal, it is understood. Prince Andrew spent the day with his ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, in Windsor instead.

Princess Beatrice was accompanied at Sandringham by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 41, and Edoardo’s son Christopher “Wolfie” Woolf.

While her step-son has already made his royal debut at Sandringham two years ago, the continued inclusion of extended family speaks to the King’s more modern approach to traditional royal events.

The eight-year-old, who also attended the Princess of Wales’s carol concert earlier this month, was seen at one point sharing a light-hearted moment after the service as the vicar appeared to joke with the children.

Other royal children who stole the show during this year’s Christmas event were Princess Charlotte and her cousin Mia Tindall, who at one point walked in lockstep as they whispered to each other.

Mia, the eldest daughter of Mike and Zara Tindall, was seen flashing the Princess of Wales a devilish grin before the Princess started greeting members of the public.

Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of the late Princess Margaret, and her sons Arthur and Samuel were also in attendance. David Armstrong-Jones, Princess Margaret’s son, also walked alongside the family to the church.

The Prince had revealed it was a larger-than-normal gathering for Christmas lunch this year, with no fewer than 45 royals invited to Sandringham.

Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles, Queen Camilla’s children, were also in attendance with their families but did not join the main party as they walked to and from church in the morning.

Mr Parker Bowles recently revealed that he was going to attend the traditional royal event this year at his mother’s special request.

Speaking to The Telegraph, he said: “My mum said ‘I’d love you to come, I haven’t had Christmas with you for a long time.’”

He explained that he wanted to be there to show his support to his mother and stepfather after the gruelling year they had faced.

“It has been a hell of a two years for them. The older you get, the more conscious you become of mortality, especially with illnesses and the rest of it,” he added.

It was not only the King and Queen’s own family that attended to support them after their difficult year.

John Loughrey, 69, the retired chef from Wandsworth, south London, said he had come to Sandringham arriving on Christmas Eve to support the Princess of Wales and her family.

He said: “We came here for Catherine. She’s been an inspiration the last year what she’s been through.”