Kate celebrates UK community work at Christmas service
Source: Prince and Princess of Wales
The Princess of Wales has hosted her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey, with royals and A-listers in attendance.
The event, which is now in its fifth year, thanks people across Britain for volunteering, raising funds for charity and supporting the vulnerable.
Missing from the festive gathering this year were the daughters of former prince Andrew — Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie.
Eugenie posted regretfully about their absence but did not say why the sisters had declined to attend.
“Wish Bea and I could have been celebrating tonight with our family,” she wrote on Instagram.
“Wishing @princeandprincessofwales such a special evening at her incredible carol service. What an amazing message of hope.”
The message was written over an image of the back of the order paper for the event.
Princess Eugenie expressed regret on Instagram. Photo: Instagram
Kate, 43, gave each guest a note highlighting how a “moment of listening” and “word of comfort” can make a difference to people’s lives.
She and Prince William were pictured arriving at the London service with their three children, George, 12, Charlotte, 10, and Louis, seven.
William delivered a reading before 1600 guests along with actors Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor and Joe Locke, as well as actor and comedian Babatunde Aléshé.
“At a time when life can sometimes feel fragmented or uncertain, the Christmas season invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another with generosity of heart, understanding and hope,” Kate wrote in her note.
The Prince of Wales, Prince George, Prince Louis, Princess Charlotte and the Princess of Wales arrive. Photo: AAP
The service was aimed at people of all faiths and those without faith, her Kensington Palace office said.
Westminster Abbey’s choir was due to sing traditional Christmas carols, alongside performances of more contemporary music by Hannah Waddingham and Katie Melua.
The Together at Christmas service will be broadcast in Britain on Christmas Eve, while 15 community carol services supported by the couple’s Royal Foundation charitable arm will be held across the UK during December.
The Princess of Wales last year completed a course of preventative chemotherapy to address an unspecified form of cancer.
-with AAP
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