ROYAL RISING STARS

This will be a busy year for the Wales children, with increasing public appearances finely balanced with their education and family life

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As they stepped out at Sandringham on Christmas Day and confidently shook hands with the waiting public on their way from church, Prince George, 11, and his siblings Princess Charlotte, nine, and six-year-old Prince Louis were, as always, the star attraction.

The annual festive meet and greet has long given fans a chance to see the royal family close up and at their most relaxed, and the youngest members are increasingly playing their part as they grow up and learn the ropes of royal life.

This year will be a landmark year for the siblings with more public outings for them as Kate continues her return to public life and the youngsters reach an age where they are able to participate. In particular Louis - who often used to be left at home with a nanny while his older siblings joined their parents for official occasions - seems to have curtailed his exuberance and was on his best behaviour at Kate's Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, even managing to keep secret from his sister the fact that dancers from the Royal Ballet were going to perform.

After a turbulent year for their family, which included cancer diagnoses for their mother and grandfather the King, the youngsters will be looking forward to a return to normality in 2025.

TREATS IN STORE

Charlotte turns ten in May and George is moving into his final year at Lambrook - the co-ed prep school where all three are pupils - before he heads off to secondary school next year. HELLO! understands the Prince and Princess have continued to visit possible locations for the young Prince's big move, with no choice yet confirmed.