Kate Middleton's Together at Christmas The carol service was full of emotion and poignant moments at the end of a year in which Princess Kate announced that she was undergoing treatment for cancer.
On Dec. 6, 1,600 guests, including several royals and some of Princess Kate's loved ones from her side of the family came together to attend her fourth annual Together at Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey in London. Princess Kate continued the tradition by hosting the event she spearheaded with The Royal Foundation in 2021 as a way to thank those across the UK who went above and beyond for their communities during the COVID pandemic, and her appearance marked her most major event since she shared on Sept. 9 that she completed chemo.
Many motifs throughout the program echoed the theme of gratitude for the present, reflecting on the challenges of what Prince William previously described as a “brutal” year, as both his wife and father, King Charles, faced their battles with cancer. Kensington Palace previously announced that Princess Kate, 42, chose love and empathy as the themes of the concert this year, and she sent an emotional letter to guests about the power of love to uplift in the darkest times.
“It is this love which is the greatest gift we can receive. Not just at Christmas, but every day of our lives,” the princess wrote in a letter to guests. “Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times. We all have something we can offer one another. Gentle words or a receptive ear, an arm around an exhausted shoulder, or silently being by someone's side.”
The sentiment of togetherness and connectedness was reflected in the illustration she chose for the order of service for the carol service.
Charlie McKessy
Princess Kate tapped author and artist Charlie Mackesy to create an illustration for the booklet, which showed a group of friends trooping through the snow together towards Westminster Abbey with their arms interlinked.
“How did I help?” said the message under the doodle, followed by the reply, “You were by my side. Which was everything.”
A spokesperson for Princess Kate's office Kensington Palace said that these words “embody the theme of the carol service and the power of providing support to someone simply through being by their side when they need it most.”
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The order of service itself opened to show an emotional message, repeating the themes of love and empathy.
“This Carol Service is dedicated to those who have shown love, kindness and empathy to others in their communities,” a dedication said. “They have inspired, counseled, comforted, and highlighted how love unites and connects us all.”
The palace previously said that the carol service would welcome those who went above and beyond for their communities this year, and others who experienced difficult times this year. Princess Kate invited families and survivors from Southport, the site of a mass stabbing at a Taylor Swift-themed dance class on July 29 in which three children were killed and 10 others, including eight children, were injured.
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Princess Kate's first public engagement after announcing that she completed chemotherapy was a surprise visit to Southport with Prince William on Oct. 10, where they met families of the three young girls who were killed, and others involved in the tragedy, including the dance teacher who witnessed the horror and first responders.
PEOPLE understands that Prince William and Princess Kate went to Southport to show the grieving community that they are not forgotten, and that they will continue to stand by them. On Dec. 6, the Princess of Wales did just that by inviting those involved to the Together at Christmas,
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Another guest who Princess Kate invited in recognition for community contributions — with a link to supporting those who cancer — was Olivia Bowditch, 18, from Dorset. Olivia was honored for her volunteer work at the charity From Me to You, which sends anonymous letters to cancer patients as a show of love and support.
The Princess of Wales also welcomed others to Together at Christmas whose lives were affected by cancer in other ways. According to the order of service, Downtown Abbey actress Michelle Dockery delivered a reading, “Reflections on Empathy and Kindness.” In 2022, Dockery's fiance John Dineen died at age 34 after being diagnosed with a rare form of cancer.
Another guest affected by cancer was Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, who Princess Kate was seen having a one-on-one chat with. The gold medal-winning cyclist, 48, who shared earlier this year that he has cancer, told The Sunday Times in October that his diagnosis is terminal and he has been given two to four years to live.
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In a rare revelation, Princess Kate spoke about her own cancer journey and the year she has faced while speaking to pop star and Together at Christmas Performer Paloma Faith at the event.
“I didn't know this year was going to be the year that I've just had,” Princess Kate said, as seen in footage on X from Channel 5 News in the UK
“The unplanned,” Faith said.
“The unplanned, exactly,” the Princess of Wales repeated with a nod, and added, “But I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times.”
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In a few weeks, viewers can tune in to the Together at Christmas service broadcast as part of Royal Carols: Together At Christmason ITV1 and ITVX in the UK at 7:30 pm on Christmas Eve.
Step inside the royals' holiday traditions with PEOPLE's Special Edition: Christmas at the Palace: A Royal Family Album,