Kate Middleton Announces Date & Theme For Her Christmas Carol Service
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4 days ago
The Princess of Wales is bringing back the annual service for a fifth year this December
Believe it or not, December is just around the corner – bringing with it the makings of a very merry Christmas. And good tidings come aplenty from Kensington Palace, which has just announced that Kate Middleton will be hosting her fifth carol concert in London this festive season. Together At Christmas will be returning to Westminster Abbey, where it will be recorded on 5 December (and broadcast to the nation on Christmas Eve). Here’s everything you need to know, including how to tune in, this year’s theme and which Hollywood A-listers will be joining the royal family in the pews.
Kate Middleton’s Christmas Carol Service: What To Expect
Your first piece of festive viewing has been confirmed: Royal Carols: Together At Christmas returns for a fifth year this December. The annual service, hosted by Kate Middleton, promises an evening of festive joy and cheer – courtesy of carol singing, live music performances and readings from some of today’s biggest celebrities.
First started back in 2021, Together At Christmas was first created to rally around essential workers during the Covid-19 pandemic. In the years since, the theme has shifted to celebrate those who go the extra mile for their community: in 2024, the royals encouraged us to reflect on the importance of love and empathy; in 2023, they honoured the work of those who support children throughout their early years; and in 2022, the concert commemorated the life of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
‘Looking forward to the “Together at Christmas” Carol Service returning to Westminster Abbey this December,’ the royal couple said of this year’s service on Instagram. ‘The service will bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms, whether it’s in families, friendships or across communities. Christmas is a time that connects us all. Tis the season!’
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What Is This Year’s Theme?
For this year’s carol service, Kate Middleton has settled on a beautifully broad theme: love. ‘The service will bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms,’ explained an official statement from Kensington Palace. ‘Whether it’s love within families, through friendships, across communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers.
‘In a world that can often feel fragmented and disconnected, love is the force that reconnects us all – spanning generations, communities, cultures, and faiths. As we approach the Christmas season, we are reminded of the power of togetherness. The evening will highlight the transformative power of investing in one another with compassion, presence, and joy.’
As part of the evening’s programme, it has been announced that the Princess of Wales will also pay tribute to the late Duchess of Kent, who died earlier this year. The evening has been planned so that before guests enter the Abbey, they will be able to enjoy music by young performers from Future Talent – a charity co-founded by the late Duchess of Kent to support musically-gifted children from low-income backgrounds.
Where & When Will The Carol Service Be Filmed?
As is tradition, the carol service will be filmed at Westminster Abbey, with the date of this year’s event falling on Friday 5 December.
The Wales family at the 2024 carol service (c) Andrew Parsons / Kensington Palace
Who Will Attend?
Westminster Abbey is set to fill with 1,600 guests this year, with those in attendance including individuals who have been nominated by Lord-Lieutenants across the UK and charities associated with members of the royal family.
‘This year, Her Royal Highness wanted to recognise and thank the many people around the country who are acting with love in their communities, contributing to a more cohesive and connected society,’ reads the statement from Kensington Palace.
The service will also welcome a steady stream of famous faces from the worlds of film, TV and music. Lending their talents for a series of musical performances and readings, the current list of celebrities confirmed to be making an appearance includes Hannah Waddingham, Dan Smith, Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor.
And now for the royal guest list. Both the Prince and Princess of Wales will attend, along with their three children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – and other members of the royal family. In previous years, we’ve seen the likes of King Charles and Queen Camilla, Princess Beatrice, Princess Eugenie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and Zara Tindall all make appearances, alongside Kate Middleton’s family (namely her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her sister, Pippa).
What Does The Princess Of Wales Wear To The Carol Service?
Naturally, all eyes fall on Kate Middleton come the evening of the carol service – and for good reason. The Princess of Wales has honed a wonderfully festive wardrobe over the years, sticking to classic Christmas colours (red, cream, gold) and materials (a wool coat here, a tartan skirt there).
Below, we run through all of the Princess of Wales’ looks from the event so far. (We’ll also be sharing the royal’s 2025 outfit once she’s finished carolling for another year, so stay tuned.)
2024: Festive Reds
Last year’s Together At Christmas event was an emotional one: it marked one of Kate Middleton’s first events back in the public eye since her cancer diagnosis. But never one to shy away from celebrating the season, the Princess of Wales returned to her annual event – wearing a flurry of festive reds.
The royal was spotted in a red, double-breasted coat – the centrepiece of her outfit – featuring a longline silhouette and tailored fit. The coat, a bespoke creation by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen, was also adorned with a black velvet bow at the neckline for a more festive look. She teamed the coat with an A-line skirt from Emilia Wickstead’s Autumn/Winter 2018 collection, which featured sharp knife pleats and a red plaid pattern (easily matching the festive theme of the night’s activities).
To finish off the ensemble, the Princess of Wales wore a pair of black suede Ralph Lauren boots, and accessorised with an 18ct gold-plated Salamander Toque Bangle from Halcyon Days as well as a pair of gold and pearl Amberley earrings by Mulberry.
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2023: Winter Whites
This was a year of trendsetting for the Princess of Wales. In 2023 alone, she jumped on the Barbiecore bandwagon, channelled tenniscore at Wimbledon and (albeit in a flashback to the noughties on The Crown) claimed the sheer style trend as her own. And to round off the year, in the thick of festive season, she adopted another big seasonal trend: winter whites.
For her third year hosting the carol service, the Princess of Wales swapped her usual red coat for an all-white ensemble. A look befitting the quiet luxury fad, she donned a pair of Holland Cooper high-waisted trousers and a Kiltane sweater, as well as a white coat crafted by Chris Kerr, a bespoke menswear tailor on Savile Row. The Princess of Wales topped off the look with a white Strathberry handbag, Gianvito Rossi suede pumps and Van Cleef & Arpels earrings.
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The princess carried this theme into the official promo trailer for the event, where you can see her wearing a glittery white bouclé jacket from Self Portrait with a pair of Cassandra Goad earrings.
(C) The Royal Foundation, BBC Studio and ITV
2022: The Burgundy Coat Dress
While unexpected, it was a delight to welcome back Kate Middleton’s carol concert for a second year running (the first had been dubbed a ‘one off’, before being made into an annual event). Held just two months after the passing of Queen Elizabeth, the 2022 edition was held in her honour and remembered the values Her Majesty demonstrated throughout her life: duty, empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion and support for others.
The Princess of Wales stepped into another red ensemble, although this time she opted for a deep burgundy coat dress by British label Eponine London. The dress featured a wrap design, with a buttoned belt keeping the front panel closed. True to tradition, she walked out in a pair of red suede Gianvito Rossi pumps, a burgundy croc clutch and a pair of bow-topped burgundy gloves. In a mix of high-low dressing, it’s thought that her colourful stiletto earrings hailed from British high street staple Accessorize.
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Ahead of the national broadcast, the Princess of Wales also shared some behind the scenes imagery. Taken as she filmed segments for the service, the royal was dressed in a sparkling red dress from Needle & Thread. Featuring an A-line silhouette, ruffle detailing at the neck and shoulders and long mesh sleeves – as well as hundreds of sequins – this was probably the princess’ most festive look yet.
She teamed up the glittering gown with a pair of ruby earrings by Soru Jewellery, and another pair of red suede Gianvito Rossi heels.
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2021: The Red Bow
The very first Royal Carols: Together At Christmas was a special one. Alongside the night’s readings (this year’s set came from Paralympian Kim Daybell, actor Tom Felton, broadcaster Kate Garraway and Prince William himself), there were festive carols and musical performances. The Princess of Wales also managed to surprise everybody by accompanying musician Tom Walker on the piano as he performed a song.
And for the special evening, Kate Middleton wrapped up in a coat dress by Catherine Walker. The dress, cut in a festive shade of red, featured two soft pleats at the shoulder that tied into a bow. She dressed up the look with a pair of red suede Gianvitto Rossi heels, a matching clutch from Miu Miu (with another bow on the front) as well as a pair of sapphire and diamond fringe earrings that once belonged to the Queen Mother.
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The Princess of Wales had also spent some time in Westminster Abbey earlier that day, staying to watch (and, as we came to find out, take part in) rehearsals and oversee preparations. In behind the scenes photos, we saw the royal wearing a festive red knit for the occasion. The cardigan, a Miu Miu creation, featured a contrasting white collar and cuffs, mother of pearl buttons, and a light pink rose print woven between the diamond lattice.
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Where To Watch
Royal Carols: Together at Christmas will be broadcasted and streamed in the UK on Christmas Eve via ITV. itv.com
If you’re watching from the US, you can catch the carol service on BritBox. britbox.com
