Members of the Royal Family today attended a Christmas Day church service where prayers were said for troops serving in Afghanistan and Iraq today.

Hours earlier, it emerged that a Royal Marine was killed in southern Afghanistan on Christmas Eve.

More than 2,000 onlookers gathered to see the Royals arrive for the service at St Mary Magdalene church on the Queen’s estate at Sandringham, Norfolk.

The Royals gathered earlier this week to spend Christmas at Sandringham and the Queen attended the service today with the Duke of Edinburgh, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, and Princes William and Harry.

The Princess Royal, the Duke of York and his daughters Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, the Earl and Countess of Wessex, Peter Phillips and his wife Autumn and Daniel and Lady Sarah Chatto also attended.

Sandringham Rector, the Rev Jonathan Riviere, led the royals in prayer and made special mention of troops serving in Iraq and Afghanistan and their families.

In a sombre reminder of the dangers face by troops in Afghanistan, the Ministry of Defence announced today that a Royal Marine from 42 Commando died from enemy fire while on a mission in the Nad-e-Ali district near Lashkar Gah in Helmand province.

Commander Paula Rowe, the Task Force Helmand spokeswoman, said: “The death of this Royal Marine is a tragic loss and coming so close to Christmas, this is particularly poignant.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends at this dreadfully sad time.” Next of kin have been informed.

Royal Navy Captain Mark Windsor, spokesman for the Nato forces in Afghanistan, said: “We are saddened by this brave serviceman’s death and our deepest condolences go to his family and loved ones, especially during this holiday season.

“This dedicated professional risked his life to help bring security and stability to the people of Afghanistan. ISAF (International Security Assistance Force) will continue to fight for the cause for which this brave serviceman gave his life.”

The Royal Marine is the 136th British serviceman to die in Afghanistan since the start of operations in October 2001. He is also the eleventh Royal Marine to have died in the past two months.

The death comes just days after Defence Secretary John Hutton said the UK would consider “very, very carefully” any request from President-elect Barack Obama to send more troops to the troubled country.

Mr Hutton did not rule out adding to Britain’s commitment in Afghanistan, Gordon Brown recently announced that the number of troops in the area would be boosted by 300 to a total of 8,300.

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