Why Camilla will leave the royal's Christmas celebration early this year

The Duchess of Cornwall will leave the Queen's Christmas Day celebrations early this year to spend time with her son's family.

Queen Elizabeth is hosting the royal family at her private residence at Sandringham, as per tradition.

Camilla, 72, will start her day at the Norfolk estate and will then leave to see her son, Tom Parker Bowles, and his family.

Parker Bowles told Town and Country magazine: "Even now, we all drive down to be together. My mother's up with my stepfather, and she comes down on Christmas Day straight after the Queen's speech.

"So it's very much a family thing."

Parker Bowles — who has worked as a judge on Nine's Family Food Fight — says the family is close knit.

"There was something about being very young, six, seven, eight, and going to London," he said.

"Usually, because I'd go to lunch with my grandmother, and you'd be dressed in your sort of London best, you know?

"And you'd go and look at the windows at Fortnum's or Selfridges or Harrods."

Last year, the Duchess of Cornwall was unable to attend the Christmas Day church service in Sandringham at the last minute, leaving Prince Charles to arrive alone accompanied by his children.

It is thought she skipped the engagement because she was suffering from a cold.

The royals traditionally spend the festive period at Sandringham House, the Queen's country residence in Norfolk, and attend morning mass at St Mary Magdalene church nearby.

Senior royals still send out Christmas cards each year, with the Queen and Prince Philip handing them out to staff. Prince Charles and Camilla also send out personalised Christmas cards featuring a new photo of the couple each year.

Although Charles and Camilla's 2019 card has not yet been released, their 2018 card featured a photo of them sitting a park bench, smiling at each other.