Theres gratitude for you – you invite military families to a big Christmas party, and then someone thumps you with a snowball.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge found themselves in a snowball fight as they hosted more than 200 wives, girlfriends, parents and grandparents separated from loved ones over Christmas.
As artificial snow fell, William chucked artificial snowballs at a childrens entertainer, and Kate was caught in the crossfire.
Yes, we know it was all in good spirits. Look at these high jinks:
It happened at an event in the grounds of Kensington Palace, where they staged a Santas grotto for children with a parent based at RAF Coningsby or RAF Marham.
Kate told her guests: William and I just wanted to pass on our huge gratitude to all of you here today.
Not only are we grateful for you coming here to join our party, but also for the sacrifices you make on a daily basis on behalf of the nation.
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As someone whose husband has served, I know how hard it feels when a loved one leaves home to do the job theyve trained for.
She said she had some idea how the relatives felt at this time of year as William, a former RAF search and rescue helicopter pilot, had served in the Falklands for six weeks in 2012.
She said: But I cant imagine how it feels when your loved ones are away on active service over Christmas or at those special family moments.
The absence of people you love must be especially hard at this time of year. William and I, however, hope that today shows, in some small way, how much you are all valued.
She was hit with a mock snowball, but it was all in good spirits.
Childrens entertainer George Whitefield, who put on the event, said Prince William saw I had some in my hand and he had a little mischievous nod and wink and looked like he wanted one to throw back at us.
As artificial snow fell the two exchanged snowballs and Kate even found herself the target of a playful attack.
Earlier the duchess had chatted to Barrie, 72, and Ann Macdonald, 70, from Manchester who are looking after their five-year-old grandson Harry while his parents are deployed overseas at Christmas.
Their daughter Claire OGrady and her husband Paul, known as Pablo to the family, are both RAF Wing Commanders based at RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire, home to Typhoon squadrons which deploy to Cyprus and fly operations in support of Op Shader, the UKs contribution to the ongoing campaign against Isis.
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Mrs Macdonald, who said her son-in-law was at RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus while her daughter was in Afghanistan, added:
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Kate was asking Harry where his mummy and daddy were and she said to me its quite a commitment but it was great for the family to have us pulling everything together.
William said hed remember Harrys name and mention him to his dad when he saw him in Cyprus.
The couple are flying to RAF Akrotiri in Cyprus on Wednesday where some of the loved ones of the families they met are based, and will take with them a collection of early Christmas presents for the RAF personnel.
Her husband said: We see our main function as giving my daughter and her husband peace of mind. Theyve got an important job to do and they dont have time to worry about their son.
The couple said they had handed over a present of a bottle of aftershave for William and Kate to take over to Cyprus.
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