Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince William and Prince George at Christmas 2019.Photo: Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Merry Christmas from royal siblingsPrince GeorgeandPrincess Charlotte!
Royal fans got an extra special treat on Christmas morning when George, 6, and Charlotte, 4, took part in the royal family’s annual walk to church services in the English countryside for the first time.
The brother-sister duo joined parentsKate MiddletonandPrince Williamand grandpa Prince Charles on Wednesday as they walked with the rest of the royal family to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene on the Queen’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk, about 100 miles north of London. The royal parents held their children’s hands as they made their way into the church service.
Prince Charles, Kate Middleton, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, Prince George last Christmas.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

The Cambridges in 2019.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Prince George.Samir Hussein/WireImage

Also notably missing from the festive event arePrince HarryandMeghan Markle, who are currently on an extended break from royal duties and spending Christmas in Canada with their 7-month-old son Archie and Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland. The royal parents previouslyannounced that they would be skipping the festivitiesat Sandringham this week.
Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Prince William and Prince George.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

Samir Hussein/WireImage

Charlotte and George weren’t the only ones making their Christmas walk debut.Princess Beatrice‘s fiancéEdoardo Mapelli Mozziaccompanied his bride-to-be to the church service. Princess Eugenie and husband Jack Brooksbank also attended. The royal sisters’ father Prince Andrew, who is dealing with the aftermath of his friendship with disgraced financier Jeffrey Epstein,skipped the public walk and attended an earlier church servicewith Charles and the Queen.
Queen Elizabeth on Christmas Day 2019.Stephen Pond/Getty

Queen Elizabeth, Princess Anne, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall.Joe Giddens/PA Images via Getty

William and Kate prioritize outings with their children, including a pro soccer game in October, whereGeorge could be seen exuberantly cheering on his dad’s favorite team Aston Villa. The royal parents also brought their older children on one of their first royal outings this summer whenthey attended William and Kate’s sailing race.

BEN STANSALL/AFP via Getty

Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty

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As they prepare their children for their own future royal roles, William and Kate are also making sure their kids have a “normal” childhood. George and Charlotte attend the same school with other kids their age, where they are simply known as George and Charlotte Cambridge. They also have the same interests and hobbies as many other school kids. Charlotte loves unicorns and ballet, while George is a big soccer fan and loves to draw.
“They know what’s coming [as they near the throne] and want to give their kids as normal a start as possible,” an aide tells PEOPLE.
source: people.com