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Royal fans think they have spotted the reason why Pippa Matthews, Princess Catherine's sister, missed out on the annual Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey. The younger sister of the Princess of Wales, who is a huge sports fan, was spotted at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix this weekend.

Mrs Matthews and her husband James, were seen on TV screens at the Formula 1 season finale in Abu Dhabi, on Sky Sports, during qualifying coverage on Saturday.

The TV sighting comes after the couple missed Princess Catherine's carol service for only the second time - the first time they missed the concert was in 2021, when there was limited capacity shortly after the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pippa is a well-documented fan of Formula 1, with her last public appearance being at the British Grand Prix earlier this year at Silverstone.

One fan on X wrote of the sighting: "It looks like Pippa is in Abu Dhabi with her husband. She looks so fresh and pretty!!"

Pippa was spotted wearing a lace-collared white dress, and she had a sports lanyard around her neck. Her hair was worn with her shoulder-length tresses down, and she looked fresh-faced with minimal makeup.

The F1 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix took place on the weekend of December 5-7, and will be the 24rd and final race of the Formula 1 season.

Despite Pippa missing out on her sister's festive traditions this year,she has commented on Middleton family traditions previously.

In her 2012 book titled 'Celebrate', she wrote: "When I was a child, my December weekends were spent making cards, decorating the tree, hanging the wreath, and preparing brandy butter and peppermint creams.

"Bowls brimming with walnuts, shiny wrapped chocolates, and piles of clementines would appear around the house.

"There was always a distinctive smell, too: pine and cinnamon and the heady scent of mulled wine and pomanders that merged into one festive bouquet.

"No matter how much we may adapt other celebrations, come December we tend to repeat our own familiar customs, year after year - and this is perhaps the key to the magic of Christmas."

She explained how as we become older, "Christmases become more complicated".