The Princess of Wales beamed as she arrived at Westminster Abbey to host her annual Christmas carol service. The evening promises to be a spectacular, candle-lit, festive event with special performances from Katie Melua, Fisherman’s Friends and Griff.
Actors Hannah Waddingham, Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor are set to give readings while carols will be sung by the Westminster Abbey choir, alongside musical performances. This year, the future Queen has decided to honour Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 92, as young performers from Future Talent, a charity co-founded by Katharine, are playing music outside the Abbey.
The Prince of Wales is expected to arrive with the couple’s three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, much to the delight of royal fans.
As guests arrived on Friday afternoon, they were greeted by an array of British woodland trees creating a natural, festive environment. And inside there was a magical atmosphere with gorgeously decorated wreaths, Christmas trees and a nativity scene inside the nave.
The Together at Christmas service is a mix of traditional carols, music and readings and will air on ITV1 on Christmas Eve. Catherine’s carol service is now in its fifth year and has become one of the most important nights of the year for the future Queen.
She spends months planning the event with her team, aiming to bring people together for a heartwarming festive celebration at the start of the Christmas period.
The medieval Abbey is the perfect backdrop for the occasion, which was beautifully decorated, with dozens of Christmas trees placed among the ancient tombs, monuments and pews.
Many in the congregation have been invited to thank them for their work in helping others in their communities, such as school girl Madison Reed.
Last year, aged 10, she raised more than £1,360 for the Archie Foundation by Highland dancing in 26 locations across Scotland, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. She raised the funds for the charity, which supports sick children receiving medical care in north-east Scotland, along with their families.
Celebrity chef Dame Mary Berry, who has created a Christmas wreath on display in the Abbey, has also been invited alongside leading sportswomen.
This includes members of England women’s rugby World Cup winning squad – Rosie Galligan, Helena Rowland, Jess Breach and Marlie Packer, a number of the Wales women’s rugby team, such as captain Alex Callender.
Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody, who recently announced he has motor neurone disease, will be joined by his wife, Annie.
Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, who was photographed by Catherine in 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, was also invited to attend.
The theme of the service was the “power of love and togetherness”, with Catherine keen to recognise people across the country who contribute to society.
In a letter to guests, the princess sent a Christmas message about the importance of small acts of kindness in times that can seem “fragments or uncertain”.
She wrote: “This carol service offers a moment of collective togetherness, a chance to celebrate the spirit of community and service, and to honour the visible and invisible bonds that unite us all.
“The time, care and compassion you give, often quietly and unspoken, and without any expectation or recognition, make an extraordinary difference to the lives of others.”
Catherine’s carol service is now in its fifth year and has become one of the most important nights of the year for the future Queen.
She spends months planning the event with her team, aiming to bring people together for a heartwarming festive celebration at the start of the Christmas period.
The medieval Abbey is the perfect backdrop for the occasion, which was beautifully decorated, with dozens of Christmas trees placed among the ancient tombs, monuments and pews.
Across the UK, 15 community carol services on the same theme of love and togetherness will also take place, including in a community farm in Gwent and an arts centre in Newbury.
The Westminster Abbey service will air on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day.
‘ The preceding article may include information circulated by third parties ’
‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.express.co.uk ’
