A long queue has formed at the Sandringham Estate ahead of the Royal Family's traditional church service on Christmas Day morning.

King Charles, the Queen Consort and their family will go to St Mary Magdalene Church before sitting down to a turkey dinner with all the trimmings.

Traffic also building in the area as people flock to catch a glimpse of the royals. 

At the front of the queue at the Norfolk estate was John Loughrey, 67, from London, who arrived at 7pm on Christmas Eve.

He camped out overnight with his friend Sky London, 62, to bag the best spot. 

Retired assistant chef Mr Loughrey said they took a train from London to King’s Lynn, then a bus to Sandringham where they are staying at a local hotel, around 15 minutes walk away. 

Mr Loughrey, who wore a Union Jack hat, gloves and hoody, said he slept in a tinfoil blanket to ensure a place at the front of the queue.

“We were both shivering,” he said. “I couldn’t sleep properly.”

He has brought a bouquet of roses that he hopes to give to the royals.

Mr Loughrey said: “We wanted to come here to show our appreciation to King Charles III and his Queen Consort and of course the Prince of Wales.

“Because of losing the Queen, it’s a sad time for the family and I’m sure they will mention the Queen in the church today.

“It will be in King Charles’s thoughts about his mother, about her legacy, they will be thinking about it over Christmas.

“It’s going to be a sad time and a happy time for them. That’s how it’s got to be.”