Carole Middleton 'in luck' as Princess Kate set to make big changes in future

The couple confirmed they were already in Norfolk, citing this as the reason why they could not attend the pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace last week.

Kate and William, both 42, celebrate most Christmases with the Royal Family on the Sandringham Estate.

However on some occasions, including in the year 2016, the prince and princess joined Kate's family for the festive season.

Kate's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, live in Bucklebury near Adelaide Cottage, the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

An insider told The Mail: "William and Kate would prefer a more informal Christmas with her family and would like to resume alternating between Sandringham and the Middletons."

Carole and Michael have taken great care of Princess Kate during this year, especially amid the princess's chemotherapy treatment.

The couple attended Kate's "Together At Christmas" carol service earlier this month in a strong show of support.

Also attending were Kate's younger siblings, Pippa Matthews and James Middleton.

Both Pippa and James live in Berkshire, indicating that the family are all close together.

Pippa is a mother of three, while James is a father of one, meaning the children are all growing up close in age to Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.

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Carole previously wrote about her Christmas traditions with her grandchildren, saying: "As well as leaving something out for Santa, a Christmas Eve Box is a lovely tradition to introduce to your family and will become a beloved part of your Christmas for years to come."

In a post shared on the Party Pieces account, Carole said: "As much as I love immaculate decorations, we can’t be too serious at Christmas!"

Carole previously admitted to Good Housekeeping how involved she gets with her grandchildren, saying: "I want to run down the hills, climb the trees and go through the tunnel at the playground.

"As long as I am able to, that’s what I’ll be doing. I cook with them, I muck around dancing, we go on bike rides."