Royal Family Christmas 2016: How Queen Elizabeth, Kate Middleton And Prince William Will Celebrate The Holiday

The royals are gearing up for Christmas, but will a cold sidetrack things for Queen Elizabeth and her husband Prince Philip? Each year, the British royal family gathers together for magnificent Christmas festivities but this year things will be a little different.

The royals kicked off their Christmas celebrations on Tuesday by attending Queen Elizabeth’s annual pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace. Prince William was spotted driving Kate Middleton, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Harry to the palace. It was reported that over 50 other royals attended the lunch including Prince Charles, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Princess Eugenie and Princess Beatrice.

On Wednesday, Kensington Palace announced that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip wouldn’t be taking their annual Christmas train trip to Sandringham Estate. In a statement, Kensington Palace said the queen and her husband were suffering from “heavy colds, and so have decided not to travel to Sandringham today.”

A royal insider, however, told People that Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip aren’t canceling their plans at Sandringham and should be well enough to travel Thursday or Friday. Each year, the royal family joins Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip at the Norfolk, England estate.

On Christmas morning, they all head to church service at St. Mary Magdalene, before returning to Sandringham for lunch and other festivities. The queen also addresses the nation in her annual Christmas Day speech.

There will be a few familiar faces missing at Sandringham this year. It was revealed this week that Kate Middleton, Prince William and their two young children will spend the holiday in Bucklebury, Berkshire with Middleton’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton. The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will then join the other royals for the Boxing Day Pheasant Shoot on Dec. 26.