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Kate Middleton was surrounded by family Friday, as the royals gathered at Westminster Abbey for the annual concert she founded in 2021. But this year, the celebration had a slightly melancholy tone, as the Princess alluded to the royal family’s challenging 2024—and as King Charles III and Queen Camilla, both of whom have faced health issues in recent months, were conspicuously absent.
Prince William and the couple’s children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis all joined Middleton on Friday for the fourth annual Together at Christmas Carol Service, a Westminster Abbey concert series Middleton founded as an effort to express appreciation for first responders and others who helped Britain navigate the pandemic.
Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
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Prince Louis of Wales and Catherine, Princess of Wales attend the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
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Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales Britain’s Princess Charlotte of Wales, Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales and Britain’s Prince George of Wales leave following the “Together At Christmas” Carol Service” at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6, 2024.
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Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales attends the “Together At Christmas” Carol Service” at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6, 2024.
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“Music was so important to me during the pandemic as I think it was to so many people, too,” Middleton said when announcing the concert in 2021. “But above all, it’s about celebrating the goodwill, the acts of kindness, love, empathy, and compassion to help people come through these difficult times.”
As the pandemic waned, the event—which typically mixes carols from the Westminster Abbey choir and other groups, with performances from celebrities—has pivoted to become a holiday staple. But this year, the concert harkened back to its roots as a balm for crisis, as Middleton spent much of 2024 in treatment for an unspecified form of cancer, and Charles continued to recover from his own cancer treatments. Add to that the family’s ongoing estrangement from Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, the loss of a beloved family pet, and Camilla’s recent health struggles, and you can see why 2024 might be giving 1992 a run for its annus horribilis money.
Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales (L) and Britain’s Prince George of Wales attend the “Together At Christmas” Carol Service” at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6, 2024.
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Britain’s Prince William, Prince of Wales, points at a written message beside Britain’s Catherine, Princess of Wales, Britain’s Prince George of Wales and Britain’s Princess Charlotte of Wales (C) during the “Together At Christmas” Carol Service” at Westminster Abbey in London on December 6, 2024.
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 6: Prince William, Prince of Wales and Prince George during the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
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At Friday’s concert, which will be broadcast in the UK on Christmas Eve as Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, Middleton walked into London’s Westminster Abbey in a bow-necked Alexander McQueen coat, Emilia Wickstead plaid skirt, and Polo Ralph Lauren boots, WWD reports. This year, she eschewed any of the family jewels for a bracelet by London china and accessories brand Halcyon Days and pearl earrings by Somerset-based lifestyle company Mulberry.
Celebrity performers at the concert included Olivia Dean, Gregory Porter, and Paloma Faith, the latter of whom gave Middleton some words of sympathy over her recent illness. “I didn’t know this time last year it was going to be the year I’ve just had,” the Sun reports Middleton responded, referring to the previous year’s celebration.
“The unplanned, exactly,” Middleton said. “But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 6: Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales during the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 6: The Prince and Princess of Wales with their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis after looking at messages on the Kindness Tree ahead of the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
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LONDON, ENGLAND – DECEMBER 6: (left to right) Prince William, Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and Catherine, Princess of Wales during the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey on December 6, 2024 in London, England.
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Also in attendance were royals including Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Middleton’s parents Carole and Michael, and her sister Pippa and brother James. The audience also included caregivers, nonprofit workers, and volunteers from across the spectrum of human kindness, as well as World War II veterans and the families of those affected by the Southport knife attacks.
Those hoping to see the King or Queen were disappointed Friday, as neither were present. This isn’t the first year the pair have missed the event, as both RSVPed with regrets in 2023, citing previous engagements. This year, Buckingham Palace did not provide a reason for their absence.
Charles was there in spirit, however, as he provided the fir trees used to decorate the venue. The gift was acknowledged in the order of service every guest received Friday, which read, “With thanks to His Majesty The King for donating Christmas trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate Westminster Abbey. After the Service, these trees will be donated to the local community.”
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