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Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were spotted arriving at King’s Lynn station on Thursday morning, marking the official start of their Christmas break.
The duo were seen as they boarded a scheduled train at London’s Kings Cross station to travel to Sandringham House in Norfolk, 110 miles north of London. They opted for the first class carriage, of course.
The 91-year-old monarch chose to wear a bright purple coat and a coordinating scarf for the journey. She accented the look with a comfortable pair of low-heeled loafers, featuring a horse-bit detail on the toe, and her trusty black top-handle bag.
Philip, who retired from official royal duties earlier this year, donned a dark wool suit for the trip. He was also pictured clutching onto ‘Michelangelo: The Complete Paintings, Sculptures and Architecture’ — a nonfiction read, likely brought along to keep him entertained on the way to the countryside home.
They royal couple, who recently marked the astonishing milestone of their 70th wedding anniversary, have made it somewhat of a yearly event to take the train to King’s Lynn. However, last year, the pair were forced to make the trip via helicopter after they both came down with “heavy colds.”
And they’re off!
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip were pictured as they traveled to Sandringham House in Norfolk, 110 miles north of London.
Philip, who recently retired from royal duties, brought a book along for the short trip.
The royal family have much to celebrate this year — there’s a baby on the way for Prince William and Duchess Catherine and Prince Harry announced his highly-anticipated engagement to Meghan Markle in late November.
The former actress will soon join the Queen and other senior members of the royal family for Christmas at the sprawling estate.
In a statement about the royals’ plans for the festive season, Kensington Palace said: “You can expect to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, Prince Harry and Ms. Markle at Sandringham on Christmas Day.”
Meghan and Harry are set to wed at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018.
Have you ever seen the prince THIS happy? And that ring…
And while spending the festive season with your future in-laws mightn’t seem out of the ordinary, in the royal realm it’s a total break in tradition.
Meghan is the first non-married partner to score an invite to the coveted event. Of course, when Kate Middleton became engaged to Prince William in 2010, she spent that Christmas with her parents in Berkshire.
WATCH: Meghan and Harry make at their first royal engagement together. Post continues…
Christmas with the royals is a serious production and every item on the agenda runs to a perfectly-time schedule.
Meghan is set for a jam-packed calendar of festive celebrations kicking things off with a black-tie dinner on Christmas Eve with key royal family members including husband-to-be Harry, Prince Charles, Duchess Camilla, The Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William and Duchess Catherine.
Cheap and cheerful presents are swapped on Christmas Eve – with a focus on humorous gifts instead of material. If Meghan is racking her brain as to what to get The Queen, Duchess Catherine has previously revealed she made her chutney!
Meghan will put her royal training to the test as she joins the royal family for a traditional church service on Christmas morning.
We can’t wait to see the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children alongside Harry and his bride-to-be!
Christmas morning starts with a full English breakfast before heading to church for a morning service at St Mary Magdalene, followed by a 50-minute lunch, before gathering around the TV to watch The Queen’s Christmas message at 3pm, and a round of pheasant shooting on Boxing Day — it’s certainly worlds away from eating leftover ham and watching the cricket like most Aussies do on the 26th!
But even the royals indulge in the silly season and they reportedly enjoy popping open bespoke Christmas crackers (everyone rocks the colourful hats except for Her Majesty), party games and charades.
The festive event will be the first of many for the brunette, who will marry Harry at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle in May 2018.
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