Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall attended the Christmas service in Windsor after the Queen this week announced she would not travel to Sandringham for the holidays. The Prince of Wales was among the first members of the family to arrive and could be seen exchanging quips with the paparazzi waiting outside the church. Camilla wished the photographers a merry Christmas before Prince Charles joined in with some banter.

       As the paparazzi wished the pair a happy Christmas, the Prince of Wales quipped: "Are you sure you're meant to be out?"

       The joke had the Duchess of Cornwall and the photographers in stitches, with one of them hitting back: "I'm on duty, Sir!"

       The exchange was far more polite compared to previous swipes Prince Charles took at the press while outside in public.

       During a photocall alongside Prince William and Prince Harry in 2005, to which he agreed in exchange for a quiet break in the Alps with his sons.

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       As the photographers snapped away, some members of the press asked questions to the Prince of Wales, including the BBC's royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell.

       Speaking to Channel 5 documentary 'Scandal at the Palace,' royal expert Richard Kay said: "Nicholas Witchell, a distinguished and veteran royal correspondent of the BBC, asked the first question and it was about the wedding and how much he was looking forward to it.

       "And Charles, for some reason, couldn’t resist answering this with a dose of sarcasm. He started off saying, ‘oh, you’ve heard of it, have you?’

       "It wasn’t tongue-in-cheek, it was more than that, there was a bit of an edge to it. Sarcastic."

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       The Prince of Wales, who was sitting close to the camera and mics, was caught making an "explosive" comment to his sons.

       He said: "Bl***y people, I can’t bear that man. I mean, he’s so awful he really is."

       Commentator Daisy McAndrews noted Mr Witchell and his team had not noticed the comment had been caught straight away.

       Ms McAndrews said: "It was only later when the BBC reporters were editing their piece and were listening back to the recording that they realised they had this explosive moment caught on the microphones.

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       "Nicholas Witchell became the story rather than Charles, William, and Harry becoming the story."

       But on Christmas Day, Prince Charles was quick to retreat to St George's Chapel, where he was later joined by Prince Edward and Sophie, the Countess of Wessex with their two children.

       The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also attended the Christmas service before joining the Queen to celebrate.