Britain’s Royal Family were greeted with flowers and gifts after attending a Christmas Day service in Sandringham.
The family – which included Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip, Prince Charles and Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie – were met by around 1,000 people as they left the traditional Christian service at St Mary Magdalene Church near their Sandringham estate in Norfolk, East Anglia, on Christmas Day (25.12.12).
One young boy, Scott Tansley, 10, handed the queen – who looked in good spirits after recovering from a cold which left her unable to attend a regular service last Sunday (23.12.12) – a teddy bear dressed as a Scout.
His mother, Peg, said: ”He’s a massive fan of the queen because he’s a Scout and she is the patron. He has known her since he was in the Beavers. Somebody asked if the bear was for Kate (Duchess Catherine). He said, ‘No, it’s for the queen,’ because he loves her so much.”
Meanwhile, local resident Tess Gilder spoke to the Prince of Wales – whose two sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, were unable to celebrate Christmas with the family this year – and showed him the teddy bear Harry had his picture taken with last Christmas.
She said: ”Last year Prince Harry had his picture taken with our teddy and we brought the bear again today. He said he would tell Harry.”
Prince William and his wife Duchess Catherine, formerly known as Kate Middleton, spent the holiday with her family in Berkshire, South East England, while Prince Harry – who is a Captain in the British Army – is stationed in Afghanistan.