Kate Highlights Power of Kindness
Princess Kate has shared a heartwarming message ahead of her annual Together At Christmas carol service, celebrating the power of community, kindness and “simple acts” of love.
In a letter sent to guests attending the Westminster Abbey service, the Princess of Wales, 43, reflected on how the festive season reminds us “how deeply our lives are woven together.” She acknowledged that life can sometimes feel “fragmented or uncertain,” but emphasised that Christmas invites people to reach out to one another with compassion.
The third annual carol service, taking place this Friday, will welcome around 1,600 guests chosen for their extraordinary contributions to society. Among them is schoolgirl Madison Reed, who raised more than £1,360 for the Archie Foundation by Highland dancing in 26 locations across Scotland—each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. The charity supports sick children and their families receiving medical care in north-east Scotland.
Also recognised is 80-year-old volunteer Ann Davies, who has spent nearly a decade cooking for the Moses Project, an organisation helping men facing past or current substance misuse. Davies additionally volunteers at Middlesbrough police station, offering support to vulnerable individuals who have been arrested.
In her letter, Princess Kate wrote:
“This carol service offers a moment of collective togetherness, a chance to celebrate the spirit of community and service, and to honour the visible and invisible bonds that unite us all.”
The Prince of Wales will deliver a reading, and their children—Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis—are expected to attend. Performances will include Katie Melua, Fisherman’s Friends, Griff, actress Hannah Waddingham, and Bastille singer Dan Smith. Readings will also be given by Hollywood stars Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor, comedian Babatunde Aleshe, and actor Joe Locke, accompanied by pianist Paul Gladstone Reid.
Beyond Westminster Abbey, 15 community carol services will be held across the UK—at venues including the Coronation Street Visitor Centre, a Newbury arts centre and a Gwent community farm—each sharing the same theme of love, unity and togetherness. Attendees at these events will also receive the Princess’s message.
The Westminster Abbey service will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve, with a repeat airing on Christmas Day.
