Royal Family Attend Christmas Church Service

The Queen has marked Christmas Day by attending a traditional church service at Sandringham.

Well-wishers started gathering before dawn in the bitter cold to catch a glimpse of the royals - and by mid-morning thousands were present.

Queen Elizabeth was joined by the Duke of Edinburgh for the service at St Mary Magdalene's church on the Norfolk estate.

But the Duchess of Cornwall did not attend the service on advice from doctors after she "put her back out", Clarence House said.

Camilla "has been in pain and is receiving physiotherapy. The doctors have advised against any travel," a Clarence House spokeswoman said.

Also missing was Prince George, but he is likely to have spent the morning in the care of his nanny. His parents, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, attended.

After the service, the pair and Prince Harry greeted well-wishers outside the church.

Kate apologised to a mother and her young daughter for not bringing her son.

When Maddison Neal, aged eight from nearby Dersingham, gave Kate a Milky Bar selection box for George, the Duchess reportedly replied: "I'm sorry we didn't bring George but you would have heard him in the church."

Kate, who is around five months pregnant, wore a brown double-breasted coat.

The service took place before the Queen's Christmas Day address was broadcast.

The monarch has used her traditional address to call for reconciliation, citing the Scottish referendum and Northern Ireland.

She has also paid tribute to medical staff who have volunteered to fight Ebola in west Africa.

"I have been deeply touched this year by the selflessness of aid workers and medical volunteers who have gone abroad to help victims of conflict or of diseases like Ebola, often at great personal risk," she said.