One of the British royal family’s Christmas traditions each year is to attend church in the morning and greet the crowds of well-wishers who gather in Sandringham to see them before and after the holiday service.
For the family, 2024 was a year like no other in which they were tested as they had to navigate unfamiliar territory
In February, people from all around the world showed their support and offered words of encouragement after learning that King Charles had cancer and was receiving treatment. Then, weeks later, the Princess of Wales (formerly known as Kate Middleton) revealed that she too had cancer and was undergoing treatment.
So for fans to see everyone smiling and together on Christmas Day was special and as seen in the video of the Waleses’ walkabout, everyone wanted to make sure Kate knew how they felt. That meant that Prince William and their children had no choice but to wait as the princess was busy getting plenty of love.
This year’s walk was ‘particularly popular’ as the ‘crowds really came out’
The crowds there to see Kate at Sandringham were quite large making the family’s walk a “particularly popular” event this year.
During an appearance on Sky News Australia, Daily Express royal reporter Pandora Forsyth explained that “people queued for hours to get a glimpse of them and perhaps hand Catherine flowers … It was particularly popular this year.”
The journalist then talked about the type of “year it’s been for the royals and how it could have turned out so differently. So this year the crowds really did come out to get a glimpse and perhaps a few messages of hope for them which they certainly did. In fact, Catherine at the end there, as you can see in the footage, was actually caught up in so much conversation that William and the children were actually waiting for her to get done.”
Video shows William and the kids waiting as Kate gets showered with love from the crowds
The “footage” Forsyth is referring to is the moment cameras captured the Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis after the walkabout with their arms full of presents waiting for Kate. The princess was still back a ways as she was being showered with well wishes, cards, and other gifts.
One video on YouTube that shows William and the kids waiting has been viewed more than 40,000 times and has garnered dozens of comments.
One person wrote: “Catherine, The Princess of Wales knows how to ‘read the room.’ People wanted to see, listen, and be in touch with her and she comp[lied].”
Another added, “I like how they stand there waiting patiently. How nice kind and loving,” while a third joked, “She’s a talker. They’re used to waiting for her lol.”
A fourth posted: “Mum is exceedingly popular it seems!!”
And a fifth recalled seeing the princess in person once and said she was “mesmerizing.”
