The Royal Family’s lead-up to Christmas has been marked by yet another mishap, as Princess Michael of Kent, a member of the extended royal family, was seen attending King Charles’ annual pre-Christmas family lunch at Buckingham Palace on December 19 with both of her wrists in splints. The 79-year-old princess suffered a fall at her home, Kensington Palace, when she tripped while carrying an armful of overcoats down the stairs. In an attempt to break her fall, she put her hands out in front of her, resulting in multiple small fractures in both wrists.
Princess Michael, born Marie-Christine Anna Agnes Hedwig Ida von Reibnitz, has been dealing with the practical challenges of her injuries, such as difficulty with daily tasks like brushing her teeth. She shared with Majesty Magazine how the accident has disrupted her life, noting that improper movements could cause further setbacks in the healing process.
Despite her injuries, Princess Michael made it to King Charles’ lunch, though there was an unexpected absence at the event. Prince William and Kate Middleton, typically fixtures at the pre-Christmas gathering, canceled their attendance at the last minute, as they had already arrived in Norfolk for their own holiday celebrations. The royal family will celebrate Christmas at Sandringham, with the core members — excluding Prince Harry and Meghan Markle — expected to gather there on December 25.
This year has been challenging for the Royal Family, with a series of health scares, including King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses, and Queen Camilla’s battle with pneumonia. Prince William also opened up about how 2024 has been one of the hardest years of his life, highlighting the emotional toll these events have had on the family.