Royal family
The Duchess of Cornwall, the Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duke of Edinburgh, and Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (left to right) arrive for the annual evening reception for members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace in London, Dec. 8, 2016. REUTERS/DOMINIC LIPINSKI

Kate Middleton and Prince William skipped the royal family's annual church service at Sandringham on Sunday to visit the Duchess of Cambridge's parents in Berkshire. This is the royal couple's first Christmas away from ­Sandringham since Prince George, 3, and Princess Charlotte, 19 months, were born.

Sunday morning, Kate was photographed along with her husband and two children at a local church in Englefield. Prince William held Prince George’s hand as Kate carried Princess Charlotte in the church. Photos showed the two kids holding a candy cane while their parents spoke to the local priest.

Kate looked stunning in a long brown coat with fur lining for the service at St. Mark’s Church while Charlotte sported maroon tights and a blue coat, with her hair clipped away from her face. Prince William opted for a long, navy jacket with a red tie while Prince George was pictured in a long gray jacket and knee-high blue socks.

Kate's parents and brother, James, as well as her sister, Pippa Middleton, along with her fiancé James Matthews, were also present for the morning services. Pippa and Matthews are reportedly getting married in the same church in Englefield, Berkshire, in May 2017.

Since the royal couple got married in 2011, this is the second time they visited the Middletons on Christmas. The last time was when Kate was pregnant with George and suffered acute morning sickness.

Meanwhile, this Christmas was the first time when Queen Elizabeth II missed the Christmas church service. The queen, who was suffering from a bad cold, used her annual pre-recorded Christmas Day message to praise British Olympic and Paralympic athletes and others who inspired her during her annual speech.

"To be inspirational, you don't have to save lives or win medals. I often draw strength from meeting ordinary people doing extraordinary things — volunteers, carers, community organizers and good neighbors. Unsung heroes whose quiet dedication makes them special," she said.

Below are photos shared on social media of the royal family's Christmas celebrations:

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