Smiling Kate joins King, Queen and other royals at church service ahead of Harry and Meghan return

The Princess of Wales was all smiles as she attended a Sunday church service with Prince William, the King and Queen and other royals near the Balmoral estate.

Troops from Balaklava Company, 5th Battalion Royal Regiment of Scotland, provided a guard of honour as the family members arrived at the tiny granite Crathie Kirk in Aberdeenshire.

The soldiers lined up on both sides of the leafy driveway leading up to the church, and the fleet of cars passed between them as they took their royal occupants up to the door.

Prince George and the Princess of Wales arrive ahead of a service at Crathie Kirk Church

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Charles and Camilla were travelling in the first car, while William was driving the second car – which also carried Kate and the couple’s three children.

The Princess Royal and her husband Sir Tim Laurence were in another of the cars, and The Duke of Edinburgh and his daughter Lady Louise were in another vehicle.

A crowd of onlookers had gathered outside the front of the church to witness their arrival.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla attended the service

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The royal family arrived for their traditional summer holiday on the Balmoral estate earlier in the week.

The small Church of Scotland parish kirk is their regular place of worship when they are at Balmoral, and Queen Elizabeth II regularly attended services there.

The visit comes days after news of the Duke of Sussex’s imminent return to the UK emerged.

Prince William drove his family to the service

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The Duke and Duchess of Sussex have secured their own non-royal accommodation outside of London and they have also chosen schools for their two young children - Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five.

Prince Harry is understood to have "privately pleaded" with Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood for a final decision over his family’s security funding, according to the Daily Mail.

Princess Anne and Vice Admiral Timothy Laurence depart the service at Crathie Kirk Church

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Senior royals are understood to have held a “Sussex Summit” at Balmoral Castle following Wednesday's news that the couple planned to uproot from their current home in Montecito in California.

It is understood that round-the-clock armed police protection for Sussexes could exceed £5 million following their return to the UK.