Sharing the limelight... Meghan steps out with Kate and rest of the royals for Christmas
MEGHAN Markle has joined the Royal family for her first Christmas church service at Sandringham.
The appearance of the US actress, whose engagement to Prince Harry was announced in November, drew large crowds to St Mary Magdalene Church after Kensington Palace confirmed she would be at the Queen’s Norfolk estate.
They were not disappointed as Ms Markle demonstrated she had mastered the art of the curtsy before joining her fiance to speak to delighted well-wishers after the service.
Wearing a £986 camel coat, Ms Markle walked arm-in-arm with Harry as they made the short journey from Sandringham House to the church with other royals, including the 96-year-old Duke of Edinburgh.
Hundreds of well-wishers turned out to catch a glimpse of the royal family, with some arriving in the middle of the night to ensure a good view.
Later, the Queen has used her Christmas message to pay tribute to the Manchester terrorist attack survivors, to remember those killed in the Grenfell Tower fire, and to acknowledge a future member of her family — Meghan Markle.
In her televised address, the monarch described meeting the Manchester attack survivors in May as a “privilege” and she praised emergency services workers who put their lives at risk saving others.
A framed photograph of Ms Markle and fiance Prince Harry was displayed with other family pictures as the monarch spoke, and the couple also featured in video footage aired at the end of the festive broadcast.
Meanwhile in Rome, Pope Francis called for “peace for Jerusalem” and dialogue between Israelis and Palestinians.
While the Pontiff recognised “growing tensions” between the contending interests, he urged a “negotiated solution... that would allow the peaceful co-existence of two states”.
His remarks follow controversy over the recognition of Jerusalem as capital of Israel by the USA — a decision which has angered Palestinians.