No Pictures of the Waleses at the Pre-Christmas Luncheon, But We Still See More of the Children Than Ever

Plus, what is your prediction for Kate's Christmas ensemble?

I cannot believe it is December 21st, and we are only three days away from Christmas Eve! This year, Christmas has really snuck up on me, but the good news is that I feel a lot less stressed than I have the last few years in the run-up to Christmas. I hope you are also having a peaceful Advent, whether that’s because you are very organized or so out of it that you just don’t realize the holiday is all but upon you! ;) In Kate World…

Yesterday, for the second year in a row, King Charles hosted the annual pre-Christmas luncheon at Windsor Castle. Unfortunately, also for the second year in a row, we did not see the comings or goings of the Wales family. Last year, there were competing theories about their absence. Some speculated that now that they live on the grounds of Windsor Great Park, they can access the castle without passing the waiting cameras. Others believed the Waleses had already decamped for Anmer Hall. I actually cannot remember if that debate was ever resolved conclusively, but I know that if it was, one of you will know and drop it in the comments.

Last year around this time, Netflix had just released part deux of Harry and Meghan’s career-concluding docu-drama, and I remember wondering if William just wanted to be away from it all, including curious members of the extended family with whom he might not have wanted to discuss current events. I can also see how the Waleses would want to be firmly ensconced in Norfolk by now enjoying the coziest days leading up to Christmas. My guess is they are baking Christmas cookies and adding the final trimmings to their tree at their country estate, but maybe they snuck in the back door at Windsor yesterday.

In the past, the Christmas luncheon has been a fun opportunity for fans not only to catch a glimpse of Kate but also to see the children, albeit through a car window.

The Christmas luncheon is a private family event, and we don’t know if this move to Windsor is permanent. The assumption is that the event has been moved to accommodate the renovations that are ongoing at Windsor Castle, and, once complete, the event will return to its usual venue. I am not convinced of that. Perhaps it will depend upon whether Charles ultimately moves to Buckingham Palace, which I certainly hope he does. Although, for the royals, I have to believe that Windsor is particularly magical at Christmas, outstripping even Buckingham Palace in the wonder of the season.

Happily for royal fans, although the pre-Christmas luncheon used to be an opportunity for a very rare glimpse of the Wales children (I almost typed Cambridge babies), we see quite a bit more of them these days in more official/public capacities. It is incredible how quickly they have grown. We used to talk about the time—in the distant future it seemed—when William and Kate would start to introduce their children to royal life in the spotlight. I feel like we started with a few engagements where William and Kate brought along an almost baby Prince George.

And there were a few royal tours. But for the most part, the then-Cambridges sheltered their children and were not in a rush to usher them onto the international stage.

Then, sometime in the last three years, George and Charlotte (and even Louis) went from babies to children racing toward teenagers. Their public engagements with their parents have also seemed to increase exponentially. This month, in addition to their public appearance at Westminster Abbey for the Christmas concert, Kate took the three little royals on a private visit to a baby bank. From that visit, the Palace produced a very slick video montage of Kate showing her little royals about service and teaching them the ropes of a run-of-the-mill royal engagement—absent the walkabout.

Happily, it has also been confirmed that the Waleses will be at Sandringham for Christmas; we will get the Christmas morning walk everyone loves so much. So, although we haven’t gotten the grainy images of the children through the car windows before Christmas, I am happy with the trade-off.

On the fashion front, the big questions is, will we get a Christmas treat with a break from the trousers?

Last year, Kate wore a McQueen coat, Philip Treacy hat, and Gianvito Rossi heeled boots. I loved this look and would welcome something similar.

I am really crossing my fingers for a coat like the Catherine Walker she wore in 2019, perhaps with a broader brimmed hat. That faux fur at the neckline and cuffs was absolutely luxurious, perfect for Christmas Day. Kate paired the coat with a Sylvia Fletcher hat and Emmy London heels in a festive green.

As long as we are writing our wish list to Santa, I would really love Kate to wear some show-stopping earrings, too. Kate hasn’t been wearing much Kiki of late, and Christmas would be a great time for her to dip back into her collection or debut something new. To recap, a cozy coat with faux fur, a broad brimmed hat, and some Kiki McDonough sparkle. This is my Christmas wish list. What’s yours?