The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA
The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA
The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA
The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA

Princess of Wales promises 'special carol service' ahead of Westminster Abbey event


Soraya Ebrahimi
  • English
  • Arabic

The Princess of Wales beams in front of a Christmas tree in a promotional television clip for a “special carol service” at Westminster Abbey.

Princess Kate will host the service, due to take place at the Gothic abbey in central London on Friday, which will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve at 7.45pm.

The television clip featuring Princess Kate's Royal Carols: Together At Christmas was shown on ITV1 at 9.45pm on Thursday.

“Join me this Christmas Eve for a special carol service, as we say a heartfelt thank you to all those supporting the very youngest members of our society during those crucial early years,” the princess says in the clip.

The service, supported by The Royal Foundation, will honour those who work to support babies, young children and families in communities across the UK.

Linked to Princess Kate’s Shaping Us campaign, the service will showcase “the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives”.

The Westminster Abbey choir will perform popular carols, alongside musical performances by the likes of Jacob Collier, Freya Ridings and James Bay, and a special duet by Beverley Knight and Adam Lambert.

Readings will be given by speakers including the Prince of Wales, Micheal Ward, Emma Willis, Roman Kemp and Jim Broadbent, while a specially commissioned poem written by Joseph Coelho, the Children’s Laureate, will be read by Leonie Elliott.

Kate, Princess of Wales’s red carpet style - in pictures

  • The Princess of Wales wears an altered Alexander McQueen dress to attend the 2023 Bafta Awards in London on February 19. AFP
    The Princess of Wales wears an altered Alexander McQueen dress to attend the 2023 Bafta Awards in London on February 19. AFP
  • The Duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress along with the diamond and pearl Lotus Flower Tiara for a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on December 6, 2022. Getty Images
    The Duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress along with the diamond and pearl Lotus Flower Tiara for a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on December 6, 2022. Getty Images
  • Kate re-wore this white and gold Alexander McQueen gown for the 2020 Baftas on February 2, 2020 in London. Getty Images
    Kate re-wore this white and gold Alexander McQueen gown for the 2020 Baftas on February 2, 2020 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a black and white off-the-shoulder column gown by Roland Mouret for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere on May 19, 2022 in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore a black and white off-the-shoulder column gown by Roland Mouret for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere on May 19, 2022 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a silk duchesse satin dress by British designer Phillipa Lepley to attend a reception hosted by the Governor General at Baha Mar Resort on March 25, 2022 in Nassau, Bahamas. Getty Images
    Kate wore a silk duchesse satin dress by British designer Phillipa Lepley to attend a reception hosted by the Governor General at Baha Mar Resort on March 25, 2022 in Nassau, Bahamas. Getty Images
  • Kate's green tulle gown, worn for a dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica, at King's House on March 23, 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica, was by Jenny Packham. Getty Images
    Kate's green tulle gown, worn for a dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica, at King's House on March 23, 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica, was by Jenny Packham. Getty Images
  • Kate's magenta dress by the label The Vampire's Wife, worn for a special reception hosted by the Governor General of Belize in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee on March 21, 2022 in Cahal Pech, Belize. Getty Images
    Kate's magenta dress by the label The Vampire's Wife, worn for a special reception hosted by the Governor General of Belize in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee on March 21, 2022 in Cahal Pech, Belize. Getty Images
  • The Princess of Wales wore an Alexander McQueen dress to the 2019 Baftas, repeating it for the 2023 event. Getty Images
    The Princess of Wales wore an Alexander McQueen dress to the 2019 Baftas, repeating it for the 2023 event. Getty Images
  • The green Jenny Packham column dress Kate wore to the 2021 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London was a re-wear from her 2019 tour of Pakistan. Getty Images
    The green Jenny Packham column dress Kate wore to the 2021 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London was a re-wear from her 2019 tour of Pakistan. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a decade-old Alexander McQueen dress for the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore a decade-old Alexander McQueen dress for the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore the Bond-themed 'Goldfinger dress' by Jenny Packham to attend the No Time To Die world premiere on September 28, 2021 in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore the Bond-themed 'Goldfinger dress' by Jenny Packham to attend the No Time To Die world premiere on September 28, 2021 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a green Jenny Packham gown to attend the Baftas on February 18, 2018, in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore a green Jenny Packham gown to attend the Baftas on February 18, 2018, in London. Getty Images

The Christmas Eve broadcast will also feature additional content, including an introduction by Princess Kate.

It will include contributions from Rio and Kate Ferdinand, Ugo Monye, Andrea and Virginia Bocelli and Dame Sheila Hancock.

The service will see Westminster Abbey filled with “sustainable, eco-friendly festive decorations”.

New features this year include a Christmas post box located outside the abbey for children to send handmade Christmas cards and best wishes to others who might be struggling this festive season.

Guests will be treated to carols and Christmas songs upon arrival by the Action for Children Young Carers Aloud choir, made up of 12 young carers including one aged six.

Attendees have been nominated by lord-lieutenants across the nation, in addition to charities associated with members of the royal family.

They will be joined by those working with young people – a key focus area of Princess Kate’s work through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Updated: December 08, 2023, 6:06 AM