Fans lined up to catch a glimpse of the royals as they headed to church this morning at the Sandringham Estate.

First in the queue outside Sandringham's War Memorial gates this morning was Royal superfan John Loughrey - who arrived at 9pm last night.

Mr Loughrey, 70, from Wandsworth, south west London, spent the night sat on a fold up chair outside the gates and said: ‘It was cold but I had heat pads inside my jumper and hand warmers.

‘There’s something special about sharing Christmas Day with the royals at Sandringham.’

Mr Loughrey came armed with a portrait of himself painted in honour of Diana, Princess of Wales, in 2012, which he hoped to pass on to Prince William.

'I have met him since times before, Mr Loughrey said.

'I last saw William at the Centrepoint homeless charity a few weeks ago and I told him I would bring a special gift for him to Sandringham.'

A few people behind Mr Loughrey in the queue were American husband and with Margie and Jeff Brooks, their daughter Elizabeth Brooks, 29, and her husband Caleb Brewer, 30.

'Mrs Brooks, 62, from Fort Worth, Texas, said: 'This is the centrepiece of hour week-long holiday.

'We came up from London yesterday and go back there this afternoon.

'We all like the Royals, especially Elizabeth.'

The 29-year-old was dressed under layers and in a bobble hat as she struggled to keep warm but said: 'Apparently its 80 degrees (Fahrenheit - 26.6C) back home but I wouldn't miss this.'

Mr Brooks, 63, said: 'I went to London for Charles and Diana's wedding in 1981 because I was studying in Oxford at the time.'

Also in the queue were royal watchers from Israel and also Canada.

Noele Fowler, 65, and husband David, 66, treating daughter Jackie, 35, to a trip to Sandringham for her Christmas present.

The family, from Toronto, Ontario, are spending a week in the UK and have combined 48 hours in Norfolk with visiting relatives in Guildford, Surrey.

Jackie said: 'I've always been interested in royal history, starting with the Tudors. This is such a treat to be here.'