A FUTURE King of England and the current Prime Minister attended Christmas Day services in Berkshire churches this morning barely 20 miles apart.

While the Royal Family gathered in Norfolk for their traditional Christmas holiday, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have chosen instead to stay with Kate's parents, Michael and Carol Middleton in Bucklebury - 170 miles away from Sandringham.

And the royal couple were certainly within calling distance of the Prime Minister, Theresa May who was spending a quiet Christmas Day in Berkshire, beginning the day by attending a church service in Sonning.

This morning, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge attended the 10.30am Christmas Day service at St Mark's Church in Englefield.

Prince George, 3, walked hand-in-hand with his father to church, while 18-month-old Prince Charlotte was carried in her mother's arms as they attended the service with the rest of the Middleton family.

This is the second time the Royal couple have broken with tradition and chosen not to stay with the rest of the Royal Family in Sandringham.

Four years ago, in 2012, Kate and William stayed in Berkshire with the Middletons shortly before the birth of Prince George.

This year they were joined by newly-engaged Pippa Middleton and James Matthews for the service, where they will marry next year. 

Meanwhile, just half an hour's drive from Englefield, Prime Minister Theresa May attended a Christmas Day church service with her husband, Philip.

The couple followed their regular routine visiting St Andrew's Church in Sonning.

The daughter of a vicar, Mrs May has said that the church has always been a central part of Christmas for her.

Following the service, the prime minister said she would be attending an event laid on by the churches for the elderly in her Maidenhead constituency, before cooking a goose for Christmas dinner at home.

Meanwhile, The Queen missed the annual Christmas Day church service at Sandringham with her family as she is still recovering from a heavy cold, Buckingham Palace has said.

The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh had delayed their trip to the private Sandringham estate by a day after they both became ill.

But they were well enough to travel from Buckingham Palace by helicopter to the Queen's home near King's Lynn in Norfolk on Thursday.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: "Her Majesty the Queen will not attend church at Sandringham this morning.

"The Queen continues to recover from a heavy cold and will stay indoors to assist with her recovery. Her Majesty will participate in the royal family Christmas celebrations during the day."

The Duke of Edinburgh was well enough to attend a private mass at 9am, before a second service at 11am, where he was joined by Prince Charles, The Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry, the Earl of Wessex and Prince Andrew at St Mary Magdalene Church.