For the first time, Prince Philip has not travelled to Norfolk with his wife Queen Elizabeth II to begin their Christmas break.
It’s unclear why the Duke of Edinburgh opted not to travel alongside Her Majesty.
Many royal fans have noted it could be due to the 97-year-old royals health, and wanting to pick an appropriate day to travel the long trip.
The Queen arrived in Norfolk by train on Dec. 20. to begin her Christmas break.
She caught the 10.42am Great Northern service from King’s Cross station in London and arrived at platform two in King’s Lynn on time, at 12.31pm.
Guarded from the cold by a brown coat, black gloves and headscarf, the Queen stepped from the front carriage of the train onto the platform.
She briefly mingled with passengers as she was escorted through a side exit to a waiting Range Rover.
Sandringham, the Queen’s private estate in Norfolk, is a 30-minute drive from King’s Lynn.
Passenger Phil Kay, 62, who boarded the train at Downham Market, said he did not know the Queen was on board until he arrived at King’s Lynn and saw police and photographers on the platform.
“I didn’t see her, well, not that we went up that end of the train but it’s marvellous isn’t it?” he said. “I think it’s great that she does (travel by train).
“It just makes her more acceptable to the people doing things like that.”
The Queen will be joined by other members of the royal family for part of the festive period and they will attend their traditional Christmas Day church service.
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will be among those walking the short distance from Sandringham House to St Mary Magdalene Church on December 25.
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