The Princess of Wales has confirmed her beloved annual Christmas tradition will continue for a fifth consecutive year, with the Together at Christmas Carol Service returning to its spiritual home at Westminster Abbey.
A Celebration of Community and Connection
The special service will take place on Friday, December 5, welcoming an audience of 1,600 guests who have been recognised for their contributions to communities across the nation. These attendees were nominated by Lord-Lieutenants and charities with connections to the Royal Family, honouring those who have shown exceptional kindness, started community initiatives, or dedicated time to volunteering.
Kensington Palace revealed the event aims to 'bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms', emphasising themes of family, friendship, and powerful connections between strangers. In an official statement, the Palace elaborated: 'In a world that can often feel fragmented and disconnected, love is the force that reconnects us all – spanning generations, communities, cultures, and faiths.'
Star-Studded Performances and Broadcast Details
This year's service promises memorable entertainment with acclaimed actors Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor delivering special readings. The musical programme will feature performances by Hannah Waddingham and Dan Smith from the band Bastille, alongside the magnificent Westminster Abbey choir.
The entire event will be professionally filmed for television broadcast, airing on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve. For those who miss the initial screening, a repeat showing has been scheduled for the morning of Christmas Day, ensuring nobody misses this heartwarming festive celebration.
Personal Significance and Royal Attendance
The carol service holds deep personal meaning for the Princess, who first launched the event in 2021. Last year's ceremony marked Catherine's return to public duties following her cancer diagnosis and treatment, making the occasion particularly poignant for the royal mother-of-three.
Reflecting on challenging times in her moving letter to guests last year, Kate wrote about how the Christmas story 'reflects our own vulnerabilities' and encouraged everyone to support others with 'gentle words or a receptive ear, an arm around an exhausted shoulder, or silently being by someone's side'.
The service typically attracts widespread royal attendance, with Prince William and their children George, Charlotte, and Louis expected to join the Princess. While King Charles and Queen Camilla have attended in previous years, they were absent last year as Her Majesty recovered from pneumonia.
Before the main event, guests will be greeted by young performers from Future Talent, a charity co-founded by the late Duchess of Kent that supports children from low-income backgrounds. The abbey entrance will feature festive decorations created by horticulturalist Jamie Butterworth, while inside, wreaths donated by the Royal Horticultural Society – made with schoolchildren and ambassadors – will adorn the historic space.
Beyond the Westminster ceremony, fifteen additional community carol services will take place nationwide at locations including the Coronation Street Visitor Centre, a Newbury arts centre, and a community farm in Gwent, supported by The Royal Foundation and hosted by Lord-Lieutenants.
