Although Prince Philip, 97, joined the royal family for Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace last week, he decided not to participate in the Christmas service at St. Mary Magdalene, a church on the Queen's Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
This is the first year we haven't seen the Duke of Edinburgh lead the annual walk (FYI, the Queen arrived by car as she usually does). There was speculation that Philip might meet the rest of the royal family inside the service where Prince George, 5, and Princess Charlotte, 3, are waiting for their parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, and the rest of the royal family. But now it's being reported that he's not there at all.
According to Buckingham Palace, there's no cause for alarm, and he's just spending the holiday privately with the family. However, it's still a bit unusual for him to be missing such a big royal event. Prince Charles, Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, and Prince William were all spotted on the walk in without him.
Royal reporter Rebecca English explained via Twitter, "The Duke of Edinburgh, 97, is not at church today. BP tell me there is no cause for concern and no illness. He’s retired from public life and will be spending the day privately with his family."
The Duke of Edinburgh, 97, is not at church today. BP tell me there is no cause for concern and no illness. He’s retired from public life and will be spending the day privately with his family.December 25, 2018
Fans began speculating about the Duke's Sandringham attendance when he didn't arrive with the Queen by train last Thursday as he has done in previous years. He retired early last year and in April he also had extensive hip surgery, which forced him to cancel several appearances including Easter service with the royal family and Prince Louis' christening. He did, however, attend his granddaughter Princess Eugenie's wedding in October.
For more celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORY
-
This Is Your Shortcut to Easy Summer StyleThe classic outfit formula got a revamp.
-
Rico Nasty Shares What Music Shaped Her—and What's on Her Playlist NowWith her new album 'LETHAL' coming soon, the rapper opens up about her musical preferences for the 'Marie Claire' series "Listen Up."
-
The Future Queen of the Netherlands Wore the Same Tiara She Used to Play Dress-Up In as a ChildIt was a full-circle moment for Princess Catharina-Amalia, who admits, "I love tiaras."
-
Every Royal Family Obsessive Needs to Visit These 10 DestinationsFrom majestic castles to Queen Victoria's beach house and a retired royal yacht.
-
An Unexpected Member of the Royal Family Is Said to Have Inspired a Disney Movie CharacterWalt Disney reportedly looked to this royal as inspo for one of his early animated hits.
-
Prince Philip Was "Quite Ready to Die" But Queen Elizabeth Was Left With a "Huge Void""I have absolutely no desire to cling on to life unnecessarily. Ghastly prospect."
-
One of Queen Elizabeth's Great-Granddaughters Is the Spitting Image of Prince Philip in Sweet VideoQueen Elizabeth and Princess Charlotte aren't the only royal lookalikes.
-
Prince Harry’s Ex, Cressida Bonas, Is Launching a Podcast and Princess Eugenie Is Already Lined Up as a GuestOther famous faces in the podcast's launch announcement video include Kate Winslet, Mary Berry, and Camilla Alves McConaughey.
-
Princess Kate Will Never Neglect Her "Top Priority," Despite Embracing Her "Important Role in Life" as a RoyalThe Princess of Wales is helping her three children navigate "what must be a rather confusing environment."
-
Prince Archie's Former Nanny Discusses Her Unexpected First Meeting With Prince Harry and Meghan Markle"I thought to myself, 'I wonder how their nannies look. Do they wear heels?'"
-
The Hilarious Reason Prince William Got Banned From His Local DVD Store at UniversityThe royal reportedly got into trouble after hiring 2002 comedy 'Boat Trip'—and his bodyguards were no help at all.
