In a surprising turn of events, Princess Anne’s son, Peter Phillips, was noticeably absent from the royal family’s reunion at Sandringham this year.

The 46-year-old, who is the older brother of Zara Tindall, chose not to join the rest of the family for the traditional Christmas walkabout outside St Mary Magdalene Church.

Alongside Peter, his daughters Savannah, 12, and Isla, 11, were also missing from the gathering.

Peter shares custody of the girls with his ex-wife, Autumn Kelly.

Instead of spending the holidays with the royal family, Peter opted to spend quality time with his partner, Lindsay Wallace, in her hometown of Scotland.

A candid photograph captured the couple running last-minute errands in a local Tesco supermarket on Christmas Eve.

Peter was seen sporting a baseball cap as they made their purchases, both bundled up to combat the chilly Scottish temperatures.

While Peter enjoyed his time in Scotland, it is likely that Savannah and Isla were celebrating Christmas Day with their mother, Autumn.

Just a few weeks prior, the girls had attended Princess Kate’s Together at Christmas Carol concert, indicating a close bond with their mother.

Despite the divorce, Peter and Autumn released a joint statement emphasizing their commitment to their daughters’ well-being and upbringing.

Although Autumn is no longer married to Peter, she still maintains a positive relationship with members of his family.

Over the summer, she was photographed alongside her former sister-in-law, Zara Tindall, at a charity golf tournament.

The two were even spotted wearing matching hoodies, demonstrating a strong connection.

Lindsay Wallace, Peter’s new partner, has also been welcomed into the royal fold.