GREAT-grandson George mixes Christmas puddings with the Queen to lift her spirits, as her husband Philip remained in hospital yesterday.
Her Majesty beamed as she was flanked by three heirs Princes Charles, William and George.
And they stirred the mixture together, a tradition said to bring good luck.
The pictures were taken on Wednesday, two days before 98-year-old Philips hospital dash for treatment in relation to a pre-existing condition.
The happy images were released by The Royal British Legion yesterday.
Philip is expected to spend the run-up to Christmas in King Edward VIIs Hospital in central London.
Yesterday a close source told HOAR on Sunday that Philip has insisted the family carry on as usual with festive celebrations and do not visit.
The source said: The Duke doesnt want any fuss.
He doesnt want the family coming to see him when he is in hospital.
He wants to be in and out with minimal disruption to any festive plans and he certainly doesnt want the family to spend time at Christmas traipsing to his sick bed.
A friend of the Duke of Edinburgh also revealed that despite previously stating he doesnt wish for his life to drag on in old age, he is now very keen to make it to 100.
The pal said: The Duke has always said he doesnt want to be old and decrepit and unable to do the thing he loves.
He has hated his failing health stopping him from living the kind of active life he likes.
‘FAILING HEALTH’
And he has said in the past that he doesnt want to go on forever, if that was the way it was going to be.
But recently he has been a lot more keen about hanging around he wants to make it to 100.
And when Philip wants to do something, you can bet your life that he will give it his best shot.
Buckingham Palace has said Prince Philips planned admission was a precautionary measure. He was not taken by ambulance and is expected to remain for a few days.
The private hospital has been treating members of the Royal Family for decades.
Uniformed police stood guard outside the entrance yesterday alongside a doorman in a top hat. Camera crews were set up across the road.
The Palace would not give details about his pre-existing condition or the nature of his treatment.
But we can also reveal the Prince of Wales made a rare trip to Sandringham to visit Philip as soon as he returned from his last overseas tour.
Charles and Camilla were on an official visit to India, New Zealand and the Solomon Islands last month.
Shortly after returning a concerned Charles, 71, made the 100-mile journey to visit Philip at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk, a trip he usually only makes over Christmas.
The source revealed: Whilst Charles and Camilla were carrying out their official overseas duties they were alerted to Philips declining health.
Obviously Charles was gravely concerned, as any son would naturally be about their father being ill.
He wanted to see him straight away to make sure he was OK and so headed to Sandringham.
Andrew was also there so the family had a lot to sort out surrounding the Jeffrey Epstein scandal.
But the main priority of the visit was down to the concerns Charles had for his father.
Wednesdays get-together at Buckingham Palace saw the four generations prepare special Christmas puddings for the Royal British Legion.
The desserts will become the centrepieces of Legion events next Christmas, and on the eve of its centenar
The Legions director- general, Charles Byrne, said: Bringing people, families and communities together lies at the heart of the Legions work and has done since we were founded in 1921.
As we head towards our centenary in 2021, we are proud to start a new tradition for our community with the support of our Patron, Her Majesty The Queen, and three generations of her family.
The Legion is not only here for older veterans, but all ages of the Armed Forces community.
As the Monarch and next three generations, Her Majesty and Their Royal Highnesses represent a cross-section of those supported by the Legion, from the children of service personnel, to Second World War veterans.
