The Earl and Countess of Wessex were spotted on the slopes of Switzerland as they enjoyed a family skiing holiday at the exclusive resort of St Moritz.
Prince Edward and his wife Sophie were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn, 11, and Lady Louise Windsor, 15, as they made the most of the half-term holiday in the Swiss Alps.
The family appeared to be in high spirits as they hit the pistes during the day before going for lunch at the Corviglia Club - the most exclusive restaurant in the mountains.
Heartwarming photos show the ski-mad family laughing and joking on chair lifts and practicing their skiing while enjoying the beautiful clear weather.
The royal couple are guests of the UK-based Swiss financier Urs Schwarzenbach - who is estimated to be worth almost £1billion - and owns a magnificent £3million chalet in St Moritz.
Hitting the slopes: The Earl and Countess of Wessex were spotted on the slopes of Switzerland as they enjoyed a skiing holiday with their children at the exclusive Swiss resort of St Moritz
Prince Edward (left) and his wife Sophie (right) were joined by their children James, Viscount Severn, 11, and Lady Louise Windsor, 15, as they enjoyed a half term holiday in the Alps
The family appeared to be in high spirits as they hit the pistes during the day before going for lunch at the Corviglia Club - the most exclusive restaurant in the mountains
Heartwarming photos show the ski-mad family laughing and joking on chair lifts and practicing their skiing while enjoying the beautiful clear weather
And the family jetted out in style from Britain on last week in a £49million Gulfstream G650, a private jet that costs in the region £24,000 to charter for a two-hour flight.
Capable of flying at speeds of almost 600mph, the jet can carry up to 14 passengers and three cabin crew, and includes four convertible beds, two bathrooms, high-speed internet and a Blu-Ray entertainment system.
Shortly after landing near St Moritz, the family departed the airfield in black Range Rovers and made their way to the upmarket ski enclave, as shown in photographs that surfaced today.
St Moritz is something of a celebrity haunt for die-hard skiers, frequented by the likes of John Travolta, Liz Hurley and Ivana Trump, as well as a string of royals.
The royal couple, who are regulars on the slopes, are expected to fly back to the UK by Monday, when Prince Edward is expected to carry out public engagements in Somerset.
It was only last year that Edward and Sophie's daughter Lady Louise Windsor ended up on crutches after a fall on a similar family ski trip in the Swiss Alps.
The royal couple are guests of the UK-based Swiss financier Urs Scwarzenbach who is estimated to worth almost £billion and owns a magnificent £3million chalet in St Moritz
The family jetted out in style from Britain on last week in a £49million Gulfstream G650, a private jet that costs in the region £24,000 to charter for a two-hour flight
St Moritz is something of a celebrity haunt for die-hard skiers, frequented by the likes of John Travolta, Liz Hurley and Ivana Trump, as well as a string of royals
The Countess of Wessex is seen in the backseat of a Range Rover as she and her husband are driven to the exclusive sky resort of St Moritz
Prince Edward gestures towards staff shortly after his family landed in Switzerland ahead of a short holiday in the Alps
Capable of flying at speeds of almost 600mph, the jet can carry up to 14 passengers and three cabin crew, and includes four convertible beds, two bathrooms, high-speed internet and a Blu-Ray entertainment system
Sophie is shown talking with staff shortly after disembarking from the £49million jet from which the family flew in from Britain
Sophie is pictured in the backseat of the Range Rover as the royals' belongings are loaded into the car by airfield staff
MailOnline has contacted representatives of the Wessexes for comment.
Tonight Graham Smith from the anti-monarchy campaign group Republic blasted The Earl of Wessex's 'extravagance' with public funds.
He said: 'They’ve all tried to associate themselves with and
