FAMILY FESTIVITIES - CHRISTMAS WITH KATE

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR AND THE DUCHESS OF CAMBRIDGE IS ALREADY IN FULL FESTIVE SWING CREATING A MAGICAL CHRISTMAS FOR HER FAMILY TO ENJOY

- SAMUEL MCMANUS-MAXWELL

The countdown to Christmas is on and the Duchess of Cambridge is pulling out all the stops this year to make it one for her family to remember.

Decorations will be put up in their Norfolk home, while mince pies bake in the oven, and no doubt Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, six, and Prince Louis, three, will be running around excitedly opening their Advent calendars and singing festive songs.

Since they’ve been together, Kate and husband William, both 39, have always enjoyed two Christmas celebrations – one with the Queen at Sandringham and another more relaxed affair with Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton.

Running a party-planning business, there’s no doubt Carole loves a bit of festive fun, and it seems this has rubbed off on her daughter, as Katie Nicholl – author of Kate: The Future Queen, tells us: “Kate likes to create a special winter wonderland at Anmer Hall, it’s something she has inherited from her childhood Christmases. It’s always been quite a big affair steeped in tradition with impeccable taste.

“We know Kate is very creative and the house is always dressed beautifully, with lots of handmade decorations she’s crafted with the children.”

And both mother and daughter, as well as the Cambridge children, will get stuck in. “The week leading up to Christmas will be filled with activities for George, Charlotte and Louis to do with Kate and also Carole,” Katie says. “They’ll make paper chains and cards, cut out snowflakes and bake Christmas biscuits and mince pies. The children are very close to Granny Carole and this is always a really exciting time.”