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| Kate joined by children as she hosts carol service | Kate joined by children as she hosts carol service |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Princess of Wales has hosted her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey - the biggest event in her return to royal duties after ending her chemotherapy. | The Princess of Wales has hosted her annual Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey - the biggest event in her return to royal duties after ending her chemotherapy. |
| It was a candle-lit, festive occasion, but also with some poignancy – as it came at the end of a year of health problems for Catherine and for some of the guests who have faced very difficult times. | It was a candle-lit, festive occasion, but also with some poignancy – as it came at the end of a year of health problems for Catherine and for some of the guests who have faced very difficult times. |
| Among the 1,600 guests were families affected by the Southport knife attack, and a candle was lit by Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who had a cancer diagnosis. | Among the 1,600 guests were families affected by the Southport knife attack, and a candle was lit by Olympic cyclist Sir Chris Hoy, who had a cancer diagnosis. |
| The Prince of Wales joined Catherine at the service, along with the couple's three children - Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. | The Prince of Wales joined Catherine at the service, along with the couple's three children - Prince George, Prince Louis and Princess Charlotte. |
| The televised carol service has become something of a royal tradition in recent years | |
| It was an atmospheric occasion in the medieval Abbey, which was richly decorated in winter colours of red and green, with Christmas trees dotted around the ancient tombs and monuments. | It was an atmospheric occasion in the medieval Abbey, which was richly decorated in winter colours of red and green, with Christmas trees dotted around the ancient tombs and monuments. |
| "I didn't know this year was going to be the year that I've just had... But lots of people have had challenging times," Catherine said to singer Paloma Faith. | |
| Catherine wore a bright red coat - and when she saw the singer also wearing the same colour, she said: "It's a celebration, everybody's wearing red." | |
| Prince George and Prince Louis were both seen wearing red ties to match their mother's coat. | Prince George and Prince Louis were both seen wearing red ties to match their mother's coat. |
| Prince George and Princess Charlotte shared a moment as they lit their candles together for the service | |
| The Together at Christmas service was a mix of traditional carols, music and readings, with Catherine looking relaxed and greeting the performers when she arrived at the Abbey. | The Together at Christmas service was a mix of traditional carols, music and readings, with Catherine looking relaxed and greeting the performers when she arrived at the Abbey. |
| The Prince of Wales read a lesson from the Bible, and actor Richard E Grant performed a passage from A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. | |
| There were songs and carols from Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter, in an event that will be broadcast by ITV on Christmas Eve. | There were songs and carols from Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter, in an event that will be broadcast by ITV on Christmas Eve. |
| Catherine spoke to singer Olivia Dean about her own memories and emotional associations with the Abbey, including being married there. | |
| Sir Chris Hoy and his wife Sarra were among the guests invited to the service | |
| The princess greeted the night's performers, including singers Gregory Porter, Olivia Dean, and Paloma Faith | The princess greeted the night's performers, including singers Gregory Porter, Olivia Dean, and Paloma Faith |
| Prince Louis read messages tied to the 'Kindness Tree' before the carol service began | |
| Many in the congregation had been invited to thank them for their work in helping others in their communities. | Many in the congregation had been invited to thank them for their work in helping others in their communities. |
| They included 18-year-old Olivia Bowditch from Dorset, who volunteers for a charity that sends letters to cancer patients at risk of being lonely and isolated. | They included 18-year-old Olivia Bowditch from Dorset, who volunteers for a charity that sends letters to cancer patients at risk of being lonely and isolated. |
| Also there was Diven Halai from London, who has a serious lung condition but ran the London Marathon with an oxygen machine, in a charity fundraiser. | Also there was Diven Halai from London, who has a serious lung condition but ran the London Marathon with an oxygen machine, in a charity fundraiser. |
| Hannah Waddingham, who will feature in an upcoming documentary about Prince William's Earthshot Prize, also attended the service at Westminster Abbey | |
| There were four World War Two veterans attending, including Bernard Morgan from Crewe, aged 100, who landed in Normandy on D-Day. | There were four World War Two veterans attending, including Bernard Morgan from Crewe, aged 100, who landed in Normandy on D-Day. |
| He's now an ambassador the Royal British Legion and gives talks to schools about his wartime experiences. | He's now an ambassador the Royal British Legion and gives talks to schools about his wartime experiences. |
| D-Day veteran and Royal British Legion Ambassador Bernard Morgan attended the Together At Christmas carol service, which took love and empathy as its theme | |
| The theme of the service was the importance of kindness and empathy and the congregation heard readings and prayers linking it to the story of Christmas. | The theme of the service was the importance of kindness and empathy and the congregation heard readings and prayers linking it to the story of Christmas. |
| Prominently displayed in the nave of the Abbey was a large nativity scene, with figures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. | Prominently displayed in the nave of the Abbey was a large nativity scene, with figures of Jesus, Mary, Joseph and the shepherds. |
| A nativity scene at the Together At Christmas carol service | A nativity scene at the Together At Christmas carol service |
| Princess Beatrice of York, who recently announced she is pregnant with her second child, also came to the service. | |
| Guests received a letter from Catherine, which said that the Christmas message was about promoting "love, not fear". | Guests received a letter from Catherine, which said that the Christmas message was about promoting "love, not fear". |
| "Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times," the princess wrote, at the end of what has been a difficult year for her and her family. | "Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times," the princess wrote, at the end of what has been a difficult year for her and her family. |
| The Order of Service conveyed the same message of empathy, with a specially commissioned illustration by Charlie Mackesy. | The Order of Service conveyed the same message of empathy, with a specially commissioned illustration by Charlie Mackesy. |
| The illustration said: "How did I help?" with the answer: "You were by my side, which was everything". This sentiment expresses the carol concert's message of showing solidarity for those in need. | The illustration said: "How did I help?" with the answer: "You were by my side, which was everything". This sentiment expresses the carol concert's message of showing solidarity for those in need. |
| Prince William has also been helping others this week, with a visit to the Passage homelessness charity in Westminster. | Prince William has also been helping others this week, with a visit to the Passage homelessness charity in Westminster. |
| The prince, who has been associated with the charity since going there first with his mother Diana, helped prepare the Christmas dinner for the charity's clients. | The prince, who has been associated with the charity since going there first with his mother Diana, helped prepare the Christmas dinner for the charity's clients. |
| Leo Scanlon, who was at the dinner, praised the prince for how he talked to people and for the questions he asked: "He clearly has a great understanding of homelessness and the issues around it." | Leo Scanlon, who was at the dinner, praised the prince for how he talked to people and for the questions he asked: "He clearly has a great understanding of homelessness and the issues around it." |
| An illustration by Charlie Mackesy for the carol concert's order of service | An illustration by Charlie Mackesy for the carol concert's order of service |