Princess Kate’s message to royal fans who flocked to see her and the King: ‘I’m so grateful, it’s meant a lot’

It has been, in the words of Prince William, an utterly ‘brutal’ year for the Royal Family.

So it is no surprise that their appearance together at Sandringham on Wednesday, looking noticeably happy and well, was so welcome.

With the first “superfans” gathering at the gates of the King’s Norfolk estate at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve, there was even more of a frisson of excitement than normal.

Because the King had stoically worked throughout his ongoing cancer treatment, many were keen to see the Princess of Wales, whose public appearances during her own course of preventative chemotherapy have been few and far between.

And her radiant interactions with the crowds, accompanied by Prince William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, did not disappoint.

Clutching so many flowers at one point that a police officer had to come to her rescue, she thanked people for their support, saying: “I’m so grateful, it’s meant a lot.”

John Loughrey from London, who had slept out overnight to grab a front row position to see the family walk to St Mary Magdalene Church at 11am, said: “Catherine has been an inspiration to us all, and her positivity has been amazing to see, she’s got support all around the world.”

A waving and smiling King, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, led the family to the church with the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children right behind them.

Towering Prince George, 11, appeared to have shot up in recent months.

The family had carefully coordinated outfits with the princess, who was wearing a Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen green coat with a matching hat and a green and blue Black Watch tartan scarf.

Both George and his brother, Louis, six, sported ties with green and blue stripes, while Charlotte, nine, had a matching tartan coat and a green velvet bow in her hair.

Prince Louis looked thrilled to be handed several gifts including a chocolate Santa and a plush Mickey Mouse dressed as a guardsman, which he delightedly waved as he showed his father.

Also in the royal party were Princess Anne and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and their children Lady Louise, 21, and James, Earl of Wessex, 17.

The King’s niece Zara and her husband Mike Tindall were accompanied by their children, as was his nephew, Peter Phillips.

Lord Snowdon and his sister Lady Sarah Chatto – niece and nephew of the late Queen – were also there with their partners and children.

Queen Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, and daughter, Laura Lopes, were also both invited with their children for the first time and made the journey to Norfolk to support their stepfather.

Another notable attendee was Princess Beatrice, with her husband, Edo Mapelli Mozzi, and stepson Christopher, who now regularly attends royal events.

Days ago her father, Prince Andrew, was forced to pull out of attending the annual family gathering, along with his former wife Sarah, over allegations about his relationship with a suspected Chinese spy.

Both the princess and her sister Eugenie had decided to spend the festive season with their respective in-laws, but at the last minute Beatrice, who is heavily pregnant, was advised by doctors not to fly abroad.

She chose to go to Sandringham instead, with her parents’ blessing, as she wanted her daughter Sienna, three, to enjoy time with her cousins.

The Mail understands the King was “delighted”, given how fond he is of his niece.

And it was notable that she was wearing a coat by Modern Artisan for Net-a-Porter, which has joined forces with one of the monarch’s charitable organisations, The King’s Foundation, which helps to train emerging designers.

It will be seen as yet another way His Majesty has wrapped his arms around Andrew’s children, despite his brother’s repeated public scandals.

After the 45-minute service, the family undertook a brief walkabout to give them the chance to thank the crowds.

Kate was told by one well-wisher who works for Macmillan Cancer Support that she was an “inspiration” and replied: “The amount of people who have written this year is extraordinary and I think cancer just really does resonate with so many families.”

“People like you are doing all the hard work out there. I’m hugely grateful.”

She was hugged by cancer patient Karen Maclean, 73, from Lincolnshire, who told her she had dealt with the disease for more than 20 years.

Ms Maclean, who also spoke to the King, said both seemed “very well considering what they are going through”.

The King joked to the crowds: “I hope you will be able to get back in time (for dinner).”