The Princess of Wales was the radiant centrepiece of her annual Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, an event that has firmly established itself as a cherished festive tradition. For her fifth year as host, Kate, 43, was joined by her husband, Prince William, and their three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, ten, and Prince Louis, seven, marking the family's first public appearance together since Trooping the Colour in June.
A Celestial Sparkle and Family Warmth
Ensuring she shone as brightly as the occasion, the Princess sported a pair of exquisite white gold and diamond earrings named the 'Tsar Star'. Valued at £11,195, the stunning celestial drops and studs, featuring unique eight-pointed stars, were crafted for her by Robinson Pelham, the same jeweller responsible for her wedding day pieces. The earrings were elegantly set against her dark green coat, which featured a black faux fur collar for warmth against the winter chill.
The family moment was captured as a smiling Kate, who had arrived early for preparations, walked to their car to greet her husband and children, warmly putting her arms around their shoulders. Together, they walked to one of the beautifully decorated trees outside the historic Abbey. The 'Connection Tree' invited guests to add named paper loops to its branches, symbolising unity. George, Charlotte, and Louis each added their own red cards inscribed with their first names.
Stars Align for a Service of Connection
Before the hour-long service began, the Princess mingled with performers and volunteers in the Abbey's undercroft. She thanked singers including Katie Melua, Dan Smith, Griff, and Fisherman's Friends for performing. Speaking to Bastille's Dan Smith, she revealed her children were "really excited" as the event "has become such a tradition".
The congregation was a mix of familiar faces and heartfelt surprises. Kate was gathered into a hug by Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, whom she had photographed in 2020. In a delightful moment, she greeted Canadian actor Eugene Levy, who recently featured Prince William on his travel show. "You know my husband very well now," Kate said with a smile. "I hope he looked after you."
Other royals in attendance included Mike and Zara Tindall. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie were thoughtfully invited but unable to attend. Kate's own family, the Middletons, were also present. A last-minute change saw actress Hannah Waddingham, whose voice was compromised, replaced by Zak Abel, who delivered a show-stopping rendition of 'Silent Night'. Actress Kate Winslet delivered a moving, personally-penned reading on the theme of love.
Honouring the True Community Heroes
The real focus of the evening, however, was the 1,600 guests honoured for their extraordinary contributions to communities across the UK. Among them were Anna and Jonathan Cordiner from Aberdeenshire, who founded the charity Kayleigh's Wee Stars after losing their two-year-old daughter to a brain tumour. Their charity has awarded over £1 million in grants to families with terminally-ill children.
"This is an incredible opportunity to bring people together," said Anna, 44. "Our invitation is an acknowledgement of what the wider community has achieved. We feel very humbled to be part of it." This sentiment perfectly encapsulated the princess's vision for the event: a celebration of compassion, connection, and the powerful spirit of togetherness during the festive season.
