Reason why Prince William and Kate Middleton won’t be at King Charles’ pre-Christmas lunch

Prince William and Kate Middleton will not be attending the Royal family’s traditional pre-Christmas lunch today (19 December), and there's an important reason why they're giving it a miss.

Every year, King Charles hosts the lunch and invites the wider Royal family who won't be joining the core family members at the Sandringham estate next week on the actual day of Christmas itself.

Charles hosted his last two festive gatherings at Windsor Castle, but this year, he's moved the event to Buckingham Palace - a venue which his later mother, Queen Elizabeth, reportedly favoured.

Prince William and Kate Middleton won't be attending King Charles' annual pre-Christmas lunch this afternoon (Max Mumby/Indigo / Contributor / Getty Images)

However, this year, the Prince and Princess of Wales along with their three children; Prince George, 11 Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis won't be joining, the Daily Mail reports.

A royal source said the pair are already in Norfolk at their property on the Sandringham estate, Anmer Hall, as had been planned, and are looking forward to spending time with the rest of the Royal family at Sandringham over Christmas.

Anmer Hall is where the family-of-five often retreat to during the school holidays.

An insider revealed via the Royal Observer: "Whether the Prince and Princess of Wales attend the King's luncheon or opt for an early retreat to Anmer Hall, their choices will undoubtedly influence public perceptions of the Royal family's balance between duty and personal life in this most bizarre of royal years."

The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, are already at their Anmer Hall property in Sandringham (Indigo/Getty Images)

Reportedly more than 70 Royals will be attending the luncheon, but Charles' younger brother, Prince Andrew, will also not be in attendance.

Earlier this week, the Duke of York pulled out of the lunch as he continues to be dogged by his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Prince Andrew decided not to attend the gathering after speaking to his ex-wife and close friend Sarah, Duchess of York, according to a source.

The King’s brother had already withdrawn from joining senior royals at Sandringham for the festive period.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, the Princess Royal, Mike and Zara Tindall, Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie and their families are likely to be among the guests attending today's lunch.

A few years back in 2019, Mike Tindall opened up about the gathering.

"I didn't drink actually, this is the other one, the family lunch there must be about 70 of us there – there are seven tables and the kiddies have their own little one in a different room," he said on a podcast, via Hello magazine.

"I was on [then] Prince Charles' table. It was lovely, really good."