Meanwhile, Hello! reports that Prince William hopped on the phone with a protection officer when he realized Kate had been left behind, and that they were seen chatting as the Princess of Wales caught up with the group.

Prince William and Kate Middleton reportedly spent Christmas apart in 2006, with the Duke of Cambridge having to make a difficult decision about their New Year's Eve plans

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George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6, walked alongside their parents Prince William and Kate, the Princess of Wales, as members of Britain's royal family made their way into St. Mary Magdalene Church for their traditional Christmas Day service.

Prince William, now 42, gave Kate, also 42, the gift early in their courtship, when they were both students at the University of St. Andrews — where they met in 2001 and fell in love thereafter. As The Mirror put it, back in the early 2000s William “was far less confident in his gift-giving abilities,” and one gift left his then-girlfriend baffled.

December has been one for the royal books. I'm talking Kate Middleton and Prince William releasing their Christmas card, Will (once again) skipping a certain holiday tradition and the palace dropping a surprise interview with the future monarch.

In addition to Charles and Camilla and William and Kate and their children, other royal family members who celebrate Christmas at Sandringham include Charles's sister, Princess Anne, and youngest brother Prince Edward, and their spouses, children and in the case of Anne, grandchildren.

Prince William focused on keeping Kate Middleton safe during the royal family's Christmas walk at Sandringham. While meeting with fans, Kate joked, “I think I’ve lost my family," despite the Prince of Wales seemingly kept an eye on the Princess of Wales during the public event.