According to the Queen, Covid’s curse had yet again upset the family’s plans for Christmas.

But just like the rest of us – separated and scattered – the Royals were determined to make the best of it yesterday.

The Monarch, 95 years old, usually descends en masse upon her Sandringham estate to celebrate Christmas Day.

Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall arrive to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

Prince Charles and Camilla of Cornwall, Duchess of Cornwall, arrive at St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle for the Christmas Day service.

The pair, pictured, spent Christmas with the Queen along with Prince Edward and Sophie at Windsor Castle this year

The pair, pictured, spent Christmas with the Queen along with Prince Edward and Sophie at Windsor Castle this year

Omicron risk was not considered to be too serious for the Queen.

William and Kate spent their time in Norfolk hosting Middleton relatives, while Princess Anne was at Gatcombe Park in Gloucestershire with her husband Sir Timothy Laurence.

Prince Andrew, who is the oldest Royal, lives in Royal Lodge Windsor. However, he was not there for the morning service at St George’s Chapel, the castle’s grounds.

Sophie, Countess of Wessex steps out to attend the Christmas Day morning church service at St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle

Sophie, Countess, of Wessex, steps out for the Christmas Day church service at St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, stunned TV viewers with a bravura piano performance when she accompanied Tom Walker on his Christmas song, For Those Who Can't Be Here, at her Westminster Abbey carol concert

The Duchess of Cambridge, pictured, stunned TV viewers with a bravura piano performance when she accompanied Tom Walker on his Christmas song, For Those Who Can’t Be Here, at her Westminster Abbey carol concert

Kate reveals her talent on the piano – just like Diana 

 The Duchess of Cambridge has stunned TV viewers with a bravura piano performance – evoking memories of her late mother-in-law Princess Diana’s impromptu turn at the keyboard in Australia in 1988.

Kate performed with Tom Walker’s Christmas song For Those who Can’t be Here at Kate’s Westminster Abbey carol concert. The broadcast was on ITV Christmas Eve.

The pop star said yesterday he had kept the performance a secret, ‘even from my own mother – she was in floods of tears watching it on the telly.’

After Kate had seen him perform at charity events, he said that he was asked to do so. Then a week later, they called and said “Would it all be okay if the Duchess performed along with me?”

The Duchess' performance evoked memories of her late mother-in-law Princess Diana's impromptu turn at the keyboard in Australia in 1988

It brought back fond memories of her late mother in law Princess Diana’s spontaneous keyboard turn in Australia in 1988.

The Queen said yesterday that “Covid again means it’s not possible to celebrate Christmas as we would like”. The Duke and Duchess shared a Christmas message in which they wrote a tweet saying that this Christmas would be very different from what many had planned.

‘From those who are alone or having to isolate away from loved ones, to the incredible people supporting our NHS and caring for those most in need – we are thinking of you. W & C.’

The couple were later accompanied by their three children George, 6, Charlotte, 6 and Louis 3, as they left the Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church, Sandringham.

Prince William, Kate and their children George and Charlotte attend Mary Magdelane church in Sandringham on Christmas Day

Prince William and Kate, along with their children George and Charlotte, attend Mary Magdelane Church in Sandringham for Christmas Day

The Duchess of Cambridge and her daughter Charlotte. This year William and Kate stayed in Norfolk where they were hosting members of the Middleton family

Charlotte, the Duchess and Kate of Cambridge. William and Kate were in Norfolk hosting Middleton family members this year.

Prince George pictured leaving the Christmas Day church service in the morning at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk

Prince George seen departing the Christmas Day Church Service at St Mary Magdalene Church Sandringham, Norfolk

Smiling for the waiting photographers, Kate wore a £97 dark brown Suffolk fedora with pheasant feather wrap by hatmakers Hicks & Brown and £165 pair of fern earrings from Zoraida.

The Queen missed the St George’s Chapel service because she was not able to make it. It was attended alongside Charles and Camilla by the Duchess and Duke of Gloucester.

The Duchess Of Cornwall was seen wearing a patchwork coat by Bruce Oldfield. It was accompanied by a Philip Treacy hat and Chanel quilted handbag.

Edward and Sophie, who chose a striking leopardprint pillbox hat by Jane Taylor Millinery and £525 Jimmy Choo heels, were accompanied by their daughter Lady Louise and son James, Viscount Severn.

The Queen’s decision to not attend is understood as a personal one. It follows an approach of precaution taken over the last six months.