Queen and Royal Family Attend Christmas Eve Church Service in Sandringham

The Queen and many members of the royal family attended a Christmas Eve church service in Sandringham overnight, but there was no sign of the younger royal quartet.

Hundreds of well-wishers, many with their dogs, walked in the grounds of the Sandringham estate, but their hopes of spotting Princess William and Harry and their partners, the Duchess of Cambridge and Meghan Markle were dashed when the force stayed away at the Cambridges' nearby residence Amher Hall.

Prince William and Prince Harry also missed playing in their usual football match with estate staff at the nearby town of Castle Rising.

Ms Markle was reported in the mail on Sunday to have been left distraught after one of her two rescue dogs, Guy, broke two legs.

It is unclear how Guy was injured but Prince Harry and Ms Markle have been spending regular visits to a Surrey vet clinic where Ms Meghan was reported to be distraught and very upset.

But the newly engaged couple is expected to join the Queen and Prince Philip at the traditional Christmas Day church service, to sing Christmas songs and hymns at the St Mary Magdalene Church in the Sandringham estate.

It will be the first time the Queen has invited a fiancé to the Christmas celebrations, even Kate Middleton had to wait until after she had married Prince William to score an invite.

During the Christmas Eve event, Prince Philip, 96, walked alongside Prince Andrew into the church, while the Queen was driven in her royal car with Sophie, the Countess of Wessex.

The Queen wore a pale blue suit and matching hat with black gloves and shoes, but for the Christmas church service she is expected to wear a brighter colour.