The whole family gathered. Kate Midlleton appeared radiant on Friday night at the traditional Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey, surrounded by her husband, Prince William, and their three children, George, Charlotte and Louis.
After a painful year marked by Princess Kate’s cancer, this is only the second time this year that the couple has attended an official event with their children. The last time was in June for Trooping the colour, on the Buckingham balcony.
The princess dedicated this ceremony to all those “who have gone through difficult times.”
Kate wore a long red coat by British designer Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen that covered a long plaid skirt. Her husband William, heir to the throne, arrived accompanied by their three children, George, 11, Charlotte, 9, and Louis, 6.
“The most difficult moments of our lives”
Some 1,600 people, chosen for their support of others, were invited to this celebration in London, which will be broadcast on the ITV1 television channel on Christmas Eve.
“This year’s concert offers a moment to reflect on the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives,” Kensington Palace said.
Since announcing the end of her chemotherapy in September, the Princess of Wales has very gradually resumed her official commitments, participating in military commemorations in November and in the state visit of the Emir of Qatar to the United Kingdom this week.
On the guest list were members of the royal family, celebrities, but also volunteers and people “who have gone through difficult times this year.” According to the BBC, the families of the three girls murdered in July in a knife attack in Southport (northwest England) were present.
Like former British cyclist Chris Hoy, who revealed in October that he had incurable cancer.
Other guests include World War II veterans and Olivia Bowditch, 18, a volunteer at a charity that sends letters to isolated people suffering from cancer.
The princess arrived before her husband to welcome and thank her guests, including singers Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter.
“Last year at this time, I didn’t know I would live the year I just had,” Kate responded to Paloma Faith, who expressed her sympathy.
Prince William read a passage from the Bible that said: “The people who walked in darkness saw a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness saw the light shining on them.”
Actress Michelle Dockery, heroine of the series. Donwton Abbeywho lost his partner in 2015 to a rare form of cancer, read a text of his composition titled “Reflections on Empathy and Kindness.”
Small written messages had been hung on a “kindness tree.” Prince Louis, 6, wrote: “Thank you grandpa and grandma for playing with me.”
“You were by my side”
In a letter to her guests, Kate emphasizes “how much we need each other despite our differences.” These guests also received a booklet illustrated by British artist Charlie Mackesy, with the following message: “How did I help? You were by my side. Which means the world to me.”
The event, Real carols: together at ChristmasIt will be broadcast on British television on Christmas Eve, on the ITV1 and ITVX channels.
If King Charles and Queen Camilla were absent, the Middleton family was present, as well as William’s cousins Zara Tindall and Princess Beatrice, pregnant with their second child.
The year 2024 has been especially tough for the British royal family.
Very popular, Kate revealed in March that she was suffering from cancer, without specifying its nature, after a major abdominal operation. She remained away from public life for many months.
King Charles III was also diagnosed with cancer in February and is still undergoing treatment. His wife Camilla contracted a form of pneumonia after returning from an official trip to Australia and Samoa in late October, and he recently canceled several engagements.
Source: BFM TV
