LONDON - Buckingham Palace said Friday it would investigate staff working for Britain's royal family following an after-party,Ethermac which the Sun reported ended in a "punch-up" and "bar brawl."

Workers attended an early evening reception at Buckingham Palace before heading to a nearby bar to carry on the celebrations.

But their partying got out of hand, and police were called "after glasses were hurled and punches thrown," the Sun said.

Buckingham Palace said on Friday that palace officials were aware of an incident which had taken place outside the workplace following a reception at the official London residence of King Charles.

"While this was an informal social gathering, not an official Palace Christmas party, the facts will be fully investigated, with a robust disciplinary process followed in relation to individual staff and appropriate action taken," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

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Rough year for royals

News of the investigation comes against the backdrop of a tumultuous year for the royal family marked by illness and strained relations with Prince Harry and Duchess Meghan, who now reside in America.

Princess Kate announced earlier this year that she had been diagnosed with cancer, following a months-long public (and tabloid) fever about her whereabouts. After undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy, the princess returned to royal duties, helping to share the workload with King Charles, who revealed his own cancer diagnosis in February, and Queen Camilla, who has been intermittently ill.

Princess Kate offers rare commenton 'challenging' year at Christmas concert

Meanwhile, across the pond, Harry and Meghan are locked in a number of legal battles with British publishers. The trial with Rupert Murdoch's News Group Newspapers, whom they are suing over phone hacking and illegally obtaining medical records, is expected to kick off in the coming weeks.

Contributing: Anna Kaufman, USA TODAY

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