The British royal family gathered on Tuesday for a joyous Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle, and everyone was in a good mood.
Family members such as Princess Anne and Timothy Laurence, Mike and Zara Tindall and their kids, Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex and their daughter, Lady Louise, were all welcomed by King Charles and his wife, Queen Consort Camilla.
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However, two the Prince and Princess of Wales were absent from the gathering.
Despite the missing couple, it was the first time the royal family had gathered for the customary celebration since before the Covid pandemic, and they undoubtedly exuded happiness and joy as they arrived at the castle.
The scene was reminiscent of previous royal Christmas celebrations.
A few hours later, however, there were dramatic events at Buckingham Palace, another main royal residence.
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Someone started a fire at the Palace gates shortly after 10 o’clock in the evening before being subdued by a policeman.
The 30-year-old man was detained on suspicion of causing criminal damage after a small fire was spotted close to the Buckingham Palace gates, according to a statement from the Met Police.
“The man has been taken into custody. The fire has been extinguished.”
The King is getting ready for his first Christmas as king in the meantime.
The royals will be present at Sandringham this holiday season to celebrate with King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla and to accompany them on their yearly stroll to the Christmas Day church service.
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The fact that this will be the family’s first Christmas without the late Queen Elizabeth II will undoubtedly make it a particularly difficult time for them.
Due to the coronavirus pandemic, the family has celebrated Christmas apart for the past two years. The late Queen spent the holiday season at Windsor Castle the previous year and in 2020.
