Royal Family out for Christmas Day in Sandringham

Royal Family out for Christmas Day in Sandringham

It was Meghan Markle's biggest day – so far.

The American actress has become the first fiancee to join the Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas - and marked the occasion by playfully sticking out her tongue in front of adoring crowds and performing a curtsy for The Queen.

The Suits actress stepped out in a wide collar camel wrap coat, made by Canadian luxury brand Sentaler, which tapered in around the waist and flared out at the hem, for the St Mary Magdalene Church Christmas service.

Matching her camel coat with a chestnut-brown felt hat, Meghan wore a pair of coordinating £630 Stuart Weitzman's Hiline high-heeled suede boots.

Meghan, 36, clutched on to her Royal beau Prince Harry and proudly displayed the engagement ring that he designed before their engagement in November.

Christmas Day at Sandringham is one of the big draws of the festive season and some had queued since before dawn to catch a glimpse.

Many royal fans were keen to see the Queen after she missed last year's service with a heavy cold. But numbers were no doubt swelled by the prospect of seeing Miss Markle, 36, who is due to marry Prince Harry at Windsor on May 19.

Fortunately for her, other young royals were there to whisper some friendly advice. As they left the church, William and Harry could be seen chivalrously guiding Miss Markle through what was to come next.  

Harry gesticulated towards the waiting crowds, with whom they would be expected to chat to as they walked back up to the main house.

Miss Markle could be clearly seen to nod thoughtfully and mouth 'yes' in reply to the prince. She had, unusually for a royal fiancee, been invited by the Queen to join the official festivities.

At 91, the monarch is much more relaxed about protocol these days, and genuinely delighted to see her grandson so happy.

Meghan seemed at ease as they smiled and chatted during the short walk to St Mary Magdalene Church alongside William and Kate, who is pregnant with her third child and showed off a small baby bump beneath a striking £2,655 tartan Miu Miu coat.

It is the first time the two women have been pictured together since Meghan and Prince Harry revealed their impending nuptials.

The Queen arrived at the service later by car wearing an eye-popping orange jacket with a matching intricate floral hat.

She completed her look with a £900 round handbag in brown leather and caramel suede with a gold coloured handle made by Chloe, while a pair of Maison Birk diamond earrings added a touch of sparkle to Ms Markle's classy ensemble.

They are the same £3,500 Snowflake design earrings she wore to her Buckingham Palace dinner last week.  

While the Queen travelled to church by car, most royals walked the half mile or so. As is tradition, they did not stop on their way into church.

The service began with the National Anthem and was followed by carols including O Little Town Of Bethlehem, Hark! The Herald Angels Sing, Angels From The Realms Of Glory and O Come All Ye Faithful. Afterwards the younger royals headed towards the crowds to collect flowers and gifts.

As they made the return journey to Sandringham House after the service was over, Ms Markle and Harry stopped to chat to some of the crowd who turned out to see them attend church.

Among them was Judith Wallis, who was sitting in a wheelchair and is staying at the neighbouring Park House Hotel on her first Christmas Day visit to Sandringham.

She said Harry recognised her teddy bear called Maureen, which is a mascot for Armed Forces charity SSAFA, and her hat which bore the Gurkha regiment emblem. 

Miss Wallis, from Chesterfield, who uses a wheelchair, was with a group from disabled charity Leonard Cheshire.

She said: 'Harry's had his photo taken with Maureen before. It just seemed so natural. She [Meghan] was very, very lovely.' William and Kate stopped to talk to nine-year-old Tallulah Read, who was waiting outside the church with a bunch of flowers.

Tess Gilder, manager of Park House, which describes itself as a unique hotel for disabled people, was with Ms Wallis. She said of Ms Markle: 'She was just so natural, so lovely.'

She added: 'I think they just wished us a Happy Christmas and were interested in whether we had been before.'

William and Kate stopped to talk to nine-year-old Tallulah Read, who was waiting outside the church with a bunch of flowers.

Tallulah's mother Jacqueline said: 'She [Kate] just asked what time Tallulah woke up this morning and if Santa came.

'We just asked them if they [Prince George and Princess Charlotte] opened their presents and she said yes, and that they were very excited.'