George, Charlotte and Louis will help granny Carole Middleton decorate via Zoom this year

It will still be a family affair – just digitally this year.

Carole Middleton, the Duchess of Cambridge's mother, has revealed that this year, due to the restrictions over Covid-19, she will have to break from tradition, and let her four grandchildren decorate her Christmas tree with her over Zoom. Usually, the close Middleton family will decorate for the festive season together, the 65-year-old revealed, adding that she usually lets Prince George, seven, Princess Charlotte, five, Prince Louis, two, and Pippa Middleton's son, Arthur Matthews, also two, help her decide where ornaments go on the tree. However, this year, due to the pandemic restrictions, the proud grandmother said she will have to continue to tradition via Zoom - adding that the tree may need to be 'tastefully rearranged' afterwards.

The 65-year-old shared the insight on Instagram in a 'winter message' to followers of her celebration company Party Pieces.

It was accompanied by a photo of Middleton dressed in a black velvet top and sparkling silver trousers teamed with black heels.

Carole looked relaxed as she leaned on a white desk adorned with presents, Christmas crackers and a gold cake stand, with a string of metallic balloons above her.

Her message read:

"We may not be able to get together but, after a year like 2020, we need to remember what’s really important this Christmas.

'For me, what really matters is that my family feels connected. I normally let my grandchildren help me decorate the tree."

It is still unknown where the royals will spend Christmas this year, with the Queen's family Christmas at Sandringham possibly having to be cancelled for the first time in 33 years, with the monarch currently isolating at Windsor Castle with Prince Philip.

A Sandringham insider recently told the Daily Mail: 'We have been told not to expect them back for Christmas.'

This could mean the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and their children will spend Christmas Day with the Middletons for the first time since 2012.