Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and little Prince Louis have officially broken up from school for their Christmas holidays. And their festive celebrations are already in full swing

There will be great excitement in the Wales household this week. That’s because Prince William and Princess Kate’s three children are officially on their Christmas holidays from school – and counting down the days until Santa comes.

George, Charlotte, and Louis broke up from Lambrook on 13 December and it is thought the family immediately travelled to Anmer Hall, their much-loved country retreat on the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.

It means they are perfectly situated from next week’s Christmas celebrations. Some 45 members of the royal family are travelling to Sandringham to spend time with King Charles and Queen Camilla – including Prince William, Princess Kate and their brood.

Indeed, the festivities began some time ago for George, Charlotte, and Louis who stepped out to support their mum at her Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on 6 December. And now, with school officially out, their excitement for the big day will be ramping up even further.

Just recently Prince William lifted the lid on the royal family’s Christmas plans during a visit with soldiers and their families in Bulford, Wiltshire. And as well as revealing that a whopping 45 extended family members are heading to Sandringham to celebrate with King Charles, he made a surprising confession.

The royal found himself amid a sea of festive jumpers as he handed out Christmas presents to military families on Tuesday, as Colonel-in-Chief of 1st Battalion Mercian Regiment in Wiltshire. Asked why he was not wearing a festive jumper of his own, William pointed to himself and admitted: “Some people don’t own one!”

When asked why, he then pointed across the room at his new equerry, Squadron Leader Mike Reynolds, and said jokingly: “I didn’t know. You see that guy in the jacket, it’s his fault and I will be having a word!”

Sharing details of his own Christmas plans, William said he would be spending the day with 45 members of his family “all in one room” but “normally spread out”, and said he hoped for a long walk that included all the dogs. “Am I ready for Christmas?” he then admitted with a laugh. “No! No way am I ready.”

The huge family gathering will see the majority of royals head to Norfolk to celebrate with the King. It’s an especially poignant Christmas following both Princess Kate and King Charles’s cancer battles this year.

But while the Sandringham estate will be filled with extended royal family members, there will be some notable absences. Prince Harry and Meghan have not received an invitation to this year’s celebration, according to reports – and now Prince Andrew has pulled out amid the furore over his links to an alleged Chinese spy.

Andrew and Sarah’s two daughters, Princess Beatrice and Eugenie, have reportedly also decided to skip the traditional gathering. It’s understood that both sisters were invited to spend Christmas with their respective in-laws several months ago, and have decided to take them up on the kind offer.