Kate Middleton and Prince William to spend Christmas with the Middleton family

Kate Middleton and Prince William have been given the Queen's blessing to spend the festive break away from the royal family

Kate Middleton and Prince William will break with royal tradition this year to spend Christmas with the Duchess of Cambridge's family in Berkshire, a spokesman for the couple has confirmed.

PICS: KATE MIDDLETON ATTENDS BUCKINGHAM PALACE CHRISTMAS LUNCH

One year after spending her first Christmas with the royal family at Sandringham, pregnant Kate Middleton and her royal hubby will return to the Middleton family home in Bucklebury, Berkshire, for the festive period.

Confirming William and Kate's decision, a royal official revealed: 'The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge will spend Christmas Day privately with the Middleton family.'

It's thought the couple have made their arrangements with the blessing of the Queen, who has already travelled to her Sandringham estate, where she'll host the rest of the royal family for Christmas.

Kate Middleton and Prince William are said to have made the decision as the Duchess continues to recover from the severe bout of morning sickness which left her in hospital at the start of the month.

Meanwhile, Kate's sister Pippa gave an insight into the Middleton family Christmas in the latest edition of the Spectator, explaining their celebrations are likely to be 'blissfully calm'

'Home is, happily, where I'll be this year,' she wrote. 'The Middletons' Christmas should be blissfully calm. We're good at keeping each other's spirits up.'

After telling reporters she was feeling 'much better', Kate Middleton showed off her pregnancy glow as she kicked off festive proceedings last week, attending the royal family's annual pre-Christmas lunch at Buckingham Palace.

William and Kate were joined by a host of other royals – including the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Freddie Windsor and wife Sophie Winkleman, and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent – at the annual occasion, held ahead of the royal trip to Sandringham over Christmas weekend.

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What do you think of Kate Middleton and Prince William's decision to break with tradition? Let us know in the comments box below…

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