The relatable reason Prince William and Kate Middleton skipped King Charles' Christmas lunch at Windsor revealed

Prince William and Kate Middleton did not attend King Charles III's pre-Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle earlier this week, despite having been invited to the festive meal with their three children. 

• Prince William and Kate Middleton were absent from King Charles' Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle earlier this week, according to inside sources. 
• The King and the Queen Consort hosted the special meal for their royal relatives on Tuesday, but it's understood that the Prince and Princess of Wales skipped it altogether. 
• In other royal news, Queen Camilla and King Charles' Christmas decor reveals what's most important to the couple this festive season.
  

Prince William and Kate Middleton decided against joining King Charles III's Christmas lunch at Windsor Castle earlier this week, according to inside sources. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales, along with their three children, Prince George, 9, Princess Charlotte, 8, and four-year-old Prince Louis, were reportedly absent from the festive lunch on Tuesday at the Berkshire estate. 

His Majesty and the Queen Consort still had plenty of guests to entertain, however, with Princess Anne and her husband, Sir Timothy Laurence, and Mike and Zara Tindall and their three children, all traveling to Windsor from their respective residences at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire. 

Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex and their daughter, Lady Louise Windsor, also made the trip from their home at Bagshot Park in Surrey. 

The Prince and Princess of Wales had been expected to attend the King's Christmas lunch at Windsor with their three kids, but ultimately were nowhere to be seen on the day. Like many parents with young children in school, it's very possible that William and Kate were simply eager to start their festive celebrations as soon as the academic term finished. 

If this is the case, it's likely that the Wales clan has already left Adelaide Cottage for Amner Hall, where they have spent the winter break ever since it was gifted to them by the Queen in 2011. They were even permanently based at the lavish Norfolk property, which is situated about three miles from Sandringham Estate, between 2015 and 2017. 

Prince William and Kate won't have too long to wait to reunite with their regal relatives, however. 

The Royal Family traditionally attends a special service at St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham on Christmas Day at 11am, before completing a walkabout to greet the hundreds of well-wishers who've gathered outside the building. 

King Charles and Queen Camilla will almost definitely be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, and Sir Timothy Laurence, and Prince Edward and Sophie Wessex, for the annual public engagement on Sunday. 

Prince Louis is also expected to attend the service for the first time ever, having delighted royal fans with his hilarious antics during the Queen's Platinum Jubilee last summer.