Queen and Royal Family arrive at Sandringham for traditional Christmas Day service in the snow

Festive: The Queen dressed all in red while Zara Phillips and Autumn Kelly added a touch of glamour to the day

The Royal Family attended a Christmas Day church service on one of the Queen's Sandringham estates today as more than 1,000 hardy onlookers braved to cold to watch the traditional procession.

Security was tight as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh arrived for the service at St Mary Magdalene church on the Sandringham Estate near King's Lynn, Norfolk.

The royals gathered earlier this week to spend Christmas at Sandringham.


Prince Charles and Zara Phillips share a joke


Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie smile as they arrive for the Christmas Day service at Sandringham Church


The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh were joined by the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and Princes William and Harry for the service.

The Princess Royal, the Duke of York and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, and the Earl and Countess of Wessex also attended.

Most of the party - including the Duke of Edinburgh - walked the quarter mile from Sandringham House to the church along an icy path.

Police searched visitors as they arrived and more than a dozen officers also kept a close eye on crowds lining the path along which the royals walked.

Children lined up to give the Queen flowers after the service. She passed the flowers to police officers who took them to her car.

And royals exchanged Christmas greetings with onlookers as they walked back to Sandringham House.


Hands in pockets, Harry arrives at Sandringham with Zara and Autumn Phillips in their high heels


Queen Elizabeth receives flowers after attending a Christmas Day church service at St Mary Magdalene Church


Autumn Phillips, Prince William, Prince Harry and Zara Phillips Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie arrive for the Christmas Day service


Zara Phillips dared to step out in the snow towering six-inch stilletoes

Prince William stopped to hug carer Debbie Barlett, 51, who lives near Sandringham and attends the Christmas Day service every year.

'He gave me a hug and a kiss and asked me where my snowman was,' she said.

'I've been coming here for the past 20 years. It's one chance you get to see the royals altogether. It's lovely.'

Zara Phillips walked along an icy path in six-inch stiletto heels as she made her way to church today.

West Norfolk has seen more than six inches of snow in recent days and fields remained white for Christmas Day.

But Miss Phillips, one of the world's top horseriders, did not put a foot wrong as she walked the quarter of a mile to church from Sandringham House in her eye-catching black shoes.


The Princess Royal makes a face as she and the Earl of Wessex arrive at the church this morning


Prince William, arm-in-arm with his cousin Zara Phillips and Prince Harry


Princess Beatrice and Sophie Wessex arm-in-arm on the royal estate at Sandringham in Norfolk


The Countess of Wessex also stood out in a pair of black four-inch stilettos with red soles - although she opted to travel to church by car with the Queen.

Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie opted for black knee-length boots with low heels - as did the Queen.

But Princess Eugenie had the most outstanding hat - a pink trilby.

Miss Phillips wore a black hat at a jaunty angle and the Duchess of Cornwall donned a Russian-style fur hat.

Her brother Peter's wife Autumn caught the eye with a pink and grey embroidered frock coat.

Police carried out body searches of visitors and confiscated sharp objects including penknives and scissors.


In the pink: The Countess of Wessex and Princess Eugenie leave St Mary Magdalene Church


Popular: The Duchess of Cornwall speaks to wellwishers as she leaves the church. Scores of people missed seeing the royals because of legnthy security checks

Officers estimated that more than 1,000 people watched the royals but scores of people were left frustrated after failing to get through a security check-point in time.

They included housewife Sarah Hawkes, 40, of Downham Market, Norfolk, and her daughter Sophie Manton, three, who had bought flowers for the Queen.

'We couldn't get in because the queue to get through security was so long,' said Miss Hawkes.

'There were scores of people still waiting when they left. Sophie was hoping to see if the Queen was wearing a crown. It was disappointing.'

Another frustrated visitor, who did not wish to be named, added: 'There were faffing around so long checking people's bags and so on, we couldn't get in.

'They used to put up signs saying not to bring bags. They don't do that now and it slows everything up.'

source: dailymail