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Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, has made a radiant entrance to Westminster Abbey ahead of her Together at Christmas carol service. Following alongside her, a swathe of royals arrived en mass to support the Princess of Wales in her landmark return to duty. The core Wales clan were in attendance, with Prince William arriving alongside Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, Lady Frederick Windsor, Princess Beatrice (with Edo and Wolfie Mapelli Mozzi), the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent, and Lady Gabriella Windsor are all said to be in attendance, too.
Many of the royals have dressed in a festive red theme. Kate turned to one of her most trusted designers as she greeted well-wishers outside Westminster Abbey, donning a festive red coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen with an oversized black bow. Princess Charlotte looked the spitting image of her mother, also wearing a Christmassy red coat. Lady Frederick Windsor looked stunning in a tartan Catherine Walker coat as she joined with Lord Frederick Windsor and their children, Maud and Isabella.
Prince William, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis
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Frederick Windsor with his wife Sophie Winkleman and their children
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Princess Beatrice dressed on theme in a matching red coat and bag as she and Edoardo Mappelli Mozzi were joined by Zara Tindall in a red velvet suit. Princess Beatrice was joined by her stepson, Wolfie Mapelli Mozzi, in a rare outing for the young royal. Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, beamed amid the festive Christmas tree lights as she arrived at Westminster Abbey in a purple paisley pattern outfit.
Britain’s Princess Beatrice of York (C), her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi (R) and stepson Christopher (2R) arrive with Zara Tindall
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Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh
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Hannah Waddingham, who is set to host Prince William’s upcoming documentary The Earthshot Report also dazzled upon her arrival to the concert, wearing a floral gown and deep red coat. Actor Richard E Grant wrapped up in a blue tartan coat for the event.
British actor Hannah Waddingham arrives to attend the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service
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It comes as Kensington Palace released a bespoke illustration for the service by British artist Charlie Macksey. Best known for his bestselling 2019 book The Boy, The Mole, The Fox And The Horse, Macksey created a touching Wintery painting of a group stood arm-in-arm facing the Abbey. “How did I help?” the text reads. “You were by my side, which is everything.”
“Love, empathy and kindness are important messages for us all,” the artist said of the work.
“As the theme of The Princess of Wales’s Carol Service this year, it was very special to have been asked to create the illustration for the Order of Service. I hope it reminds us of the beauty of being there for each other at Christmas.”
Indeed, Kate Middleton has spoken candidly about how this year’s carol service, which will be broadcast as part of a special Christmas Eve programme on ITV1 and ITVX, will reflect upon “how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives.” The importance of compassion has been on Kate’s mind recently, in a year that has been dominated by her health journey.
Indeed, this week The Princess of Wales penned a reflective letter, which will be given to the 1,600 guests attending Westminster Abbey for her Together At Christmas carol service. In the address, Catherine implored the public to “turn to love, not fear,” even in what she described as “the darkest of times.”
It is no wonder that empathy and the importance of human connection have been on the Princess’ mind as she looks back on 2024. It has been, as Prince William declared, a “brutal” year for the Wales family. Catherine announced that she had been diagnosed with cancer in March, following major abdominal surgery, then stepped back from the public eye to undergo chemotherapy treatment.
“Christmas is my favorite time of the year,” wrote the Princess of Wales in the letter, which concertgoers will receive alongside the order of service on Friday. “It is a time for celebration and joy, but it also gives us the opportunity to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all.”
Richard E. Grant attends the ‘Together At Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey
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She continued, focusing on how stepping back from daily life might encourage us to look inwards to the more vulnerable sides of ourselves and re-focus on what we can offer to others. “The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others,” Catherine wrote. “It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences.”
The Princess then opened up about the importance of love, in a message that many will read as a personal insight into her own personal development this year, as well as how her own family helped her through her chemotherapy treatment. “Above all else,” she wrote of the Christmas story, “it encourages us to turn to love, not fear. The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving, and love that brings joy and hope.”
She added: “It is this love which is the greatest gift we can receive. Not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives. Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times.”
This article first appeared on Tatler.
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