The Princess of Wales shared a light-hearted and warm moment with Hollywood legend Eugene Levy as she greeted guests at her annual star-studded Christmas carol service in Westminster Abbey. In a charming exchange, Catherine joked with the actor about his newfound familiarity with her husband, Prince William.
A Royal Reunion and a Hollywood Connection
This evening's 'Together at Christmas' carol service, now in its fifth year, saw the Princess of Wales welcoming over 1,600 guests to the historic abbey. Among them was Eugene Levy, who received a particularly friendly greeting. 'Nice to see you. You know my husband very well now,' Kate remarked, referencing the actor's memorable day spent with the Prince of Wales at Windsor Castle earlier this year.
The future King, 41, had delighted royal watchers in September with a surprise cameo in a teaser for Levy's Apple TV+ travel show, The Reluctant Traveller. In the clip, William was seen riding an electric scooter around the estate, and the pair shared a joke about getting drunk together. Responding to the Princess's comment this evening, Levy replied, 'I spent a lovely day with him.' Kate smiled and asked, 'I hope he looked after you,' to which the actor confirmed, 'He did look after me, he did.'
A Family Affair at Westminster Abbey
The event marked the first public appearance of the Wales family as a unit since the King's birthday parade, Trooping the Colour, in June. Prince William attended alongside the couple's three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7. The young siblings arrived with their father and added red ribbons to a tree at the front of the abbey, with their mother greeting them warmly with a hand on their shoulders.
The children looked smart in their festive attire, with both boys in suits and Charlotte in a black velvet dress with a white collar. The Princess of Wales herself wore a elegant dark green coat dress with knee-high black boots for the occasion. The hour-long service, which began at 5pm, was themed around 'the power of reaching out' and featured performances from artists including Kate Melua and Fisherman's Friends, whom Catherine personally thanked in the Abbey's ancient undercroft.
Notable Absences and a Message of Unity
While the event was a display of royal family unity, it was noted that Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were not in attendance, despite having received personal invitations from Catherine's office. Both had prior commitments. In a social media post, Eugenie expressed her regret, writing: 'Wish Bea and I could have been celebrating tonight with our family.'
Royal commentators suggested the invitations were part of a bid to present a connected Royal Family this Christmas, amid ongoing difficulties. The abbey itself was transformed into a winter wonderland for the event, with trees decorated in fairy lights and poinsettias, providing a festive backdrop for a evening focused on community and hope.
