The Duchess of Cambridge joined royals at a Christmas day service at a church on the Queen's Norfolk estate.
More than 3,000 well-wishers had gathered outside St Mary Magdalene Church to see royals, including the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Princess Royal, the Duke of York, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex.
The Queen, spending her first Christmas without her husband by her side for 55 years, still managed a smile as she put on a brave face for the crowds during the walk to the event on her Norfolk estate.
Kate and William reportedly spent around 20 minutes greeting well-wishers after the service. Journalist Alison Croose said, "It reminded me of the Diana years - when Diana introduced Prince William to the crowds when he was about seven or eight. It was touching. Diana used to have her hand on his back. Now you see William with his hand on Kate's back. It was really nice."
Kate stepped out in a plum-coloured coat created by an independent British dress maker and a hat by Jane Corbett.
The Queen wore a dress in lavender Armani wool gabardine and a coat in lavender wool boucle, both by Karl Ludwig.
Following the service, the family returned home where a huge turkey - reared at Sandringham - was served, before the group gathered to watch the Queen's speech at 3pm.
The royals stopped to chat with some of the well-wishers as they left the service.
The Prince of Wales said his father was "very well" when one royal fan asked after the Duke's health.
Carmilla Fitt, 71, said: "Charles said that the Duke is coming on. He is very well and in very good spirits.
"Charles said he is very determined."
Kate and William received a warm welcome outside the church, with many well-wishers presenting the Duchess with flowers.
The couple chatted to delighted children in the crowd and seemed in no hurry to leave.
By 9.30am hundreds of people had been waiting at the gates, with queues stretching back around 300 yards.
"I have never seen queues like this on Christmas Day before, I have never seen this amount of people here since Diana was alive," she said.
"People are obviously coming to see Kate Middleton."
Members of the royal family, including Princes William and Harry, visited Prince Philip in hospital this afternoon.
The Queen, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall all spent time with the Duke yesterday.
Speaking from Buckingham Palace's 1844 room in front of a beautifully decorated Christmas tree, with a table in the foreground bearing a collection of four family photographs, the Queen also acknowledged that the festive period would be a tough time for some.
Back at the house after the church service, lunch is traditionally served at 1pm and the family enjoys a giant turkey, reared at Sandringham.
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