It wasn’t just mince pies and carols at Buckingham Palace this week, Princess Anne added her own brand of festive flair to the royal pre‑Christmas lunch alongside husband Sir Timothy Laurence. 

The Princess Royal elevated the seasonal spirit with a classic red lip, proving she’s just as stylish as she is steadfast in royal duty.

Anne’s appearance came as other senior royals gathered for King Charles’ annual holiday get together, a tradition continued from his mother’s reign that draws extended family to the palace ahead of Sandringham celebrations. 

Also spotted arriving was Lady Helen Taylor, wrapped in a tan coat and magenta plaid scarf. 

This year’s festivities carry an emotional note for Lady Helen, marking her first Christmas since the passing of her mother, the Duchess of Kent, in September.

Sophie pairing a chic checked brown coat with a striking Christmas‑tree green jumper because nothing says Yuletide quite like a bit of royal colour.

Meanwhile, Princess Alexandra greeted well wishers with a wave from her car, looking every bit the gracious cousin of the late Queen as she arrived for the gathering. 

With Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie also in attendance and their father, Andrew, notably absent amid ongoing controversies, the lunch underscored a family navigating both tradition and turbulence this holiday season.

Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie have reunited with the royal family for the first time since the Palace’s fallout with their parents, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and Sarah Ferguson.

The sisters were pictured arriving at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday afternoon (December 16) for the annual pre-Christmas family lunch hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla. Their appearance marked a notable return amid ongoing York family tensions.

Beatrice and Eugenie were seen arriving together in the same car, smiling as they made their way into the Palace for the gathering. Their attendance was noteworthy, especially after both sisters were absent from Princess Kate’s carol concert earlier this month, fuelling speculation about their standing within the wider royal fold. Alas, they couldn’t ignore the King’s invite.

The lunch is a longstanding royal tradition held ahead of the family’s Christmas celebrations at Sandringham. This year’s guest list included senior royals such as the Prince and Princess of Wales, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor, the Duke of Kent, and Lady Sarah Chatto. William and Kate’s children, George, Charlotte, and Louis, also attended.

While their father, Prince Andrew, has been stripped of his royal titles following the fallout surrounding his association with convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein, it is understood that King Charles has no desire to penalise his daughters for his actions.