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  • February 18, 2025
Kate says she ‘didn’t know’ what 2024 had in store as she hosted Christmas carols

Kate says she ‘didn’t know’ what 2024 had in store as she hosted Christmas carols

The Princess of Wales spoke of “challenging times” and how she “didn’t know” what this year would bring as she made a rare public appearance at her annual Christmas carol service.

Kate, who is gradually returning to public events after completing her cancer treatment about four months ago, was heard on broadcasts telling singer Paloma Faith: “I didn’t know this year would be the year I just had.”

When Faith responded with “the unplanned,” Kate said, “Exactly the unplanned.”

“But I think a lot of people have had such challenging times this year.”

It is the fourth time the Princess has held her event at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the positive qualities of many and to bring festive cheer to the capital and its events across the country.

Famous performers included Faith, Richard E Grant and Gregory Porter, with Sir Chris Hoy giving a talk to the 1,600 guests who have supported others, friends or family, helped individuals through their work or volunteered.

Prince Louis left a touching Christmas message for his grandparents, inspired by his mother’s annual festive celebration.

The young royal and his siblings left notes on a ‘kindness tree’ erected as part of the Together at Christmas carol service, dedicated to those ‘who have shown love, kindness and empathy to others in their community’.

When Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Louis, six, first arrived with their father William, they stopped at the Kindness Tree, outside the abbey’s grand west door, and hung messages from the branches in recognition for someone who supported them during their lives.

They all arrived with their red cards in hand and Louis’s had the handwritten words: “Thank you to Grandpa and Grandma for playing games with me.”

The message is thought to refer to Kate’s parents Carole and Michael Middleton, who are known for being hands-on grandparents.

The princess preceded her family to meet the participating celebrities and personally thank them for their time.

She told jazz singer Porter: “Thank you, I realize it’s such a busy time for everyone.”

The princess wore a festive red coat with a large black bow on the collar and black buttons by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen.

She turned to Faith, in a red dress, and singer-songwriter JP Cooper, who was wearing a similar colored jacket, and smiled as she said: “It’s a party, everyone is wearing red.”

Faith joked about her eight-year-old daughter, who, when her mother was told she was leaving the house to sing for a princess, said, “Are they going to cut your head off?”

The singer and Kate laughed as the artist said, “I don’t think they do that anymore.”

Later, Kate walked through the abbey and stopped to chat with some of the guests as they waited for the carol service to begin.

She chatted to 100-year-old RAF veteran Bernard Morgan from Crewe, who landed in Normandy on D-Day in 1944 and returned to the site of the Second World War campaign with the Royal British Legion in June to mark the 80th anniversary of the war. the landings.

Mr Morgan, who still speaks to schools and colleges about his wartime experiences, said afterwards: “I am very grateful to have been invited and I was honored to light a candle on behalf of all the wonderful volunteers of the Royal British Legion who have given up their work. time to support veterans like me.

“I always want to make sure that the younger generation knows exactly what happened during the war and that they appreciate the sacrifices our boys made so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today.

“It is wonderful to be able to continue telling my story at the age of 100 and I am grateful to the Princess of Wales and the Royal British Legion for giving me the opportunity to do so.

“It was lovely to see Her Royal Highness looking so good. It was a wonderful event in the abbey and an evening I will never forget.”

Among the members of the royal family who attended the carols were the Duchess of Edinburgh, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and their son Christopher Woolf Mapelli Mozzi.

William’s cousin Zara Tindall was also among the guests, as were Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and their daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor, who made her first appearance at a royal event since a coroner concluded this week that her husband Thomas Kingston had committed suicide after a judicial investigation into his death.

Highlights of the service included Porter Do You Hear What I Hear? and Faith singing the classic soul song This Christmas.

Actor Richard E Grant recited a passage from Charles Dickens’ classic festive tale, A Christmas Carol, while Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery read some of her personal reflections.

Carols sung by the congregation included Once in Royal David’s City, O Come All Ye Faithful, Away In A Manger and Hark! The Herald Angels sing.

The event will be broadcast as part of the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas programme, shown on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve, and will feature three films about the stories of people and organizations who have inspired, advised and comforted others in their time. of need.

In addition to the service at Westminster Abbey, fifteen community songs will take place across Britain this month to give people a time to come together and celebrate community work over the festive period.

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