Time for OUR Christmas party! Royals leave Windsor Castle after festive lunch hosted by King Charles - as Prince Andrew breaks cover after US judge rules Epstein documents should be made public
- The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh were among first to arrive for the lunch
- READ MORE: Queen Camilla says she 'misses Paul O'Grady very much'
Zara Tindall and Princess Eugenie were among the royals pictured leaving Windsor Castle after enjoying a Christmas lunch held by King Charles III today - with Prince Andrew, who may soon face fresh scrutiny over his ties to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein, also seen being driven away.
As the evening wrapped up, members of the family - which included Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips, the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi - were snapped departing from the festive gathering.
A number of other extended relatives joined Charles and Camilla for the traditional meal today.
The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, along with Princess Anne, led arrivals earlier today.
Prince Edward, 59, was pictured at the wheel, joining his wife Sophie, 58, and their daughter Lady Louise Windsor, 20.![Lady Louise Windsor , 20, joined her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , as they, along with Princess Anne , led arrivals at Windsor Castle - where King Charles and Queen Camilla are welcoming extended family members for a festive turkey lunch today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/14/79170389-12885663-The_King_and_Queen_are_treating_dozens_of_relatives_to_a_sit_dow-m-18_1703081711900.jpg)
Lady Louise Windsor , 20, joined her parents, the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh , as they, along with Princess Anne , led arrivals at Windsor Castle - where King Charles and Queen Camilla are welcoming extended family members for a festive turkey lunch today
They were closely followed by the Princess Royal, 73, sporting a chic emerald green ensemble as she was driven by her husband Tim Laurence, 68.
Their daughter Zara Tindall and her husband Mike were also snapped at today's event.
Lord Frederick Windsor - who is the son of the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - was also seen, with his wife Sophie and their children.
Elsewhere, Lady Helen Taylor also attended with her husband and kids.
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank could also be seen driving away after enjoying the festive lunch.
The King and Queen treated dozens of relatives to a sit-down meal - which has typically taken place annually on the Wednesday before Christmas, shortly before the monarch leaves for Sandringham for the holiday season.
The tradition is one of the rare times when all the monarch's extended family meet, and is a chance for Charles to celebrate with those who do not receive an invitation to spend Christmas in Norfolk with the senior royals.
The family are seated at round tables, enjoy a Sandringham-bred turkey lunch and pull crackers.
![They were closely followed by the Princess Royal, 73, sporting a chic emerald green ensemble as she was driven by her husband Tim Laurence , 68](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/13/79170619-12885663-image-a-3_1703080437442.jpg)
They were closely followed by the Princess Royal, 73, sporting a chic emerald green ensemble as she was driven by her husband Tim Laurence , 68
![The King and Queen are treating dozens of relatives to a sit-down meal - which has typically taken place annually on the Wednesday before Christmas, shortly before the monarch leaves for Sandringham for the holiday season](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/13/79170617-12885663-image-a-1_1703080397699.jpg)
The King and Queen are treating dozens of relatives to a sit-down meal - which has typically taken place annually on the Wednesday before Christmas, shortly before the monarch leaves for Sandringham for the holiday season
![Prince Edward , 59, was pictured at the wheel, joining his wife Sophie, 58, and their daughter Louise](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/14/79170387-12885663-Prince_Edward_59_was_pictured_at_the_wheel_joining_his_wife_Soph-m-19_1703081742824.jpg)
Prince Edward , 59, was pictured at the wheel, joining his wife Sophie, 58, and their daughter Louise
![Despite questions over whether he would make an appearance, it would seem Prince Andrew was at the Christmas lunch and was pictured leaving](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177011-12885663-image-a-33_1703088631108.jpg)
Despite questions over whether he would make an appearance, it would seem Prince Andrew was at the Christmas lunch and was pictured leaving
Prince Andrew's attendance at today's gathering comes as he faces more scrutiny over ties to Epstein.
US Judge Loretta Preska has ruled that documents relating to more than 170 people who were either associates, friends or victims of the multi-millionaire sex offender should be made public.
They are currently referred to only as J.Doe.
They include 40 documents of evidence from Johanna Sjoberg, who has claimed Prince Andrew touched her breast while sitting on a couch inside the US billionaire's Manhattan apartment in 2001.
![Zara Tindall and her husband Mike were also pictured leaving the lunch which was hosted earlier today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177003-12885663-image-a-34_1703088856422.jpg)
Zara Tindall and her husband Mike were also pictured leaving the lunch which was hosted earlier today
![Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were seen driving away after enjoying the festive lunch today](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177007-12885663-image-a-35_1703089001872.jpg)
Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank were seen driving away after enjoying the festive lunch today
![The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent made an appearance at today's Christmas lunch at Windsor](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177009-12885663-image-m-37_1703089231662.jpg)
The Prince and Princess Michael of Kent made an appearance at today's Christmas lunch at Windsor
Buckingham Palace previously said the allegations are 'categorically untrue'.
The documents are part of a 2015 US defamation case by Virginia Giuffre against Ghislaine Maxwell, the British socialite who supplied Epstein with underage girls.
The individuals who are set to be named in the documents will have 14 days to appeal against the judge's decision - meaning they could be released in early January.
Ms Giuffre settled her civil claim against Maxwell, but representatives of the media have since argued documents that were sealed as part of the case should be made public.
Judge Preska ordered that some individuals should be named because they had already given interviews to the media.
![Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips was pictured at the festive Windsor lunch with his two daughters](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79176997-12885663-image-m-39_1703089793650.jpg)
Princess Anne's son Peter Phillips was pictured at the festive Windsor lunch with his two daughters
![Peter sat behind the wheel as he drove his daughters. The family visited Windsor Castle for lunch](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177023-12885663-image-m-45_1703090321696.jpg)
Peter sat behind the wheel as he drove his daughters. The family visited Windsor Castle for lunch
![Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, right, was pictured at the event - seemingly joining his wife, Princess Beatrice](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79178199-12885663-image-m-42_1703090028123.jpg)
Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, right, was pictured at the event - seemingly joining his wife, Princess Beatrice
Last year's annual Christmas lunch saw the family brought together in the largest reunion since the Queen's funeral in September 2022 - and was the first time the traditional gathering has taken place since 2019, due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
In 2021, the late Queen had planned to welcome 50 family members to Windsor Castle where she was living at the time, but cancelled due to fears over the Omicron Covid variant.
The lunch was also called off in December 2020 when London was in lockdown and people were urged not to travel around the country due to the pandemic.
![Lord Frederick Windsor - who is the son of the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - arrived with his wife Sophie and their children](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177021-12885663-image-m-47_1703090631576.jpg)
Lord Frederick Windsor - who is the son of the Prince and Princess Michael of Kent - arrived with his wife Sophie and their children
![Pictured: Lady Helen Taylor leaving the Windsor lunch with husband Timothy and their children](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/16/79177005-12885663-image-a-20_1703091367614.jpg)
Pictured: Lady Helen Taylor leaving the Windsor lunch with husband Timothy and their children
Festive cheer was already in the air earlier this month, when senior royals made an appearance at the Princess of Wales's annual Christmas carol service - where she high-fived and spoke with children who have gone 'above and beyond' for charity.
Kate, 41, was joined by Prince William and their children: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The Royal children were seen stepping in to the event at Westminster Abbey - while five-year-old Prince Louis once again drew attention by blowing out his sister's candle and chatting to a statue outside.
Among the large number of royal guests were Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice, her stepson Christopher Mapelli Mozzi and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips and his daughters Savannah and Isla.
Although he was not present due to a diary clash, the King has donated Christmas trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate Westminster Abbey, which will be donated to the local community after the service.
![The tradition is one of the rare times when all the monarch's extended family meet, and is a chance for Charles to celebrate with those who do not receive an invitation to spend Christmas in Norfolk with the senior royals. Pictured right, Lord Nicholas Windsor](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/17/79177001-12885663-image-a-22_1703091784895.jpg)
The tradition is one of the rare times when all the monarch's extended family meet, and is a chance for Charles to celebrate with those who do not receive an invitation to spend Christmas in Norfolk with the senior royals. Pictured right, Lord Nicholas Windsor
![The family are seated at round tables, enjoy a Sandringham-bred turkey lunch and pull crackers. Pictured: Penny Knatchbull](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/20/17/79177013-12885663-image-a-24_1703091792035.jpg)
The family are seated at round tables, enjoy a Sandringham-bred turkey lunch and pull crackers. Pictured: Penny Knatchbull
Among the group of celebrities waiting to greet the family in the Abbey's Lady Chapel were singers Beverley Knight and Adam Lambert, musician Jacob Collier and actor Jim Broadbent.
Catherine's sister Pippa and husband James Matthews were also photographed arriving for the event, as were Lady Sarah Chatto and her husband Daniel Chatto.
The Princess herself unveiled a very special festive gift to guests at the concert - a rendition of Last Christmas played on John Lennon's piano.
It is understood that Charles and Camilla will celebrate Christmas Day at the Norfolk Estate with family members.
It is likely that they will be joined by the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children, Princess Royal and her family, the Duke of Duchess and their children.
Royal Christmases feature a morning trip to St Mary Magdalene Church, the greeting of well-wishers, and a family lunch with turkey and all the trimmings.