Most of the members of the royal family including Queen Elizabeth II, Prince Charles, Prince Andrew, Prince William, and Kate Middleton, were seen attending the Christmas Day church service. Conspicuously absent, however, was Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh.

But Prince Philip has a perfectly acceptable reason not to attend the church service. The Duke of Edinburgh just arrived at the Sandringham Estate after being hospitalized for four days, BBC reported.

Prince Philip was admitted to King Edward VII Hospital, located in London on Friday, December 20, upon his doctor’s advice. However, the Duke was only there for “observation and treatment for a pre-existing condition,” Town&Country reported.

Prince Philip was allowed to go home after a four-day stay at the hospital. While he was able to join the family at the Sandringham for the holidays, he chose not to participate in the Christmas Day church service. He also skipped the same service last year.

“His Royal Highness would like to thank everyone who sent their good wishes,” a statement from the Buckingham Palace reads.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle did not attend this year’s church service as well. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, along with the six-month-old son Archie, are currently in Canada visiting Meghan’s mom Doria, Express reported.

The Sussexes, who are taking a break from royal duties, posted a simple message on Christmas morning greeting all their fans. “Wishing you all a very merry Christmas,” the royal couple posted on their official Instagram account.

The royal couple’s decision to spend Christmas across the Atlantic this year has already been announced. “The Duke and Duchess are looking forward to extended family time towards the end of this month,” a spokesperson said last month. “Having spent the last two Christmases at Sandringham, their Royal Highnesses will spend the holidays this year, as a new family, with the Duchess' mother Doria Ragland.”

The decision was even approved by Queen Elizabeth II. “This decision is in line with precedent set previously by other members of the royal family, and has the support of Her Majesty the Queen,” the spokesperson added.

Prince Philip
Britain's Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, in his role as Captain General, Royal Marines, attends a Parade to mark the finale of the 1664 Global Challenge on the Buckingham Palace Forecourt in central London on August 2, 2017. YUI MOK/AFP/Getty Images
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