Kate, Princess of Wales, to make her most prominent return by hosting Christmas carol service
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The office of Kate, Britain’s Princess of Wales (centre, with her family), said the Christmas carol service she will be hosting will let one reflect on love and empathy.
PHOTO: REUTERS
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LONDON – Britain’s Princess of Wales will make her most prominent return to royal engagements since having treatment for cancer in December when she hosts an annual Christmas carol service at London’s Westminster Abbey.
The princess, who is the wife of heir to the throne Prince William, has made only a handful of public appearances after having major abdominal surgery in January, and then undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy when subsequent tests revealed the presence of cancer.
Last weekend, she attended two high-profile Remembrance events to commemorate those who lost their lives in conflict as part of her gradual return to official duties, but the carol service – the fourth she has organised – will be the first major royal event she will be hosting herself.
“This year’s service provides a moment to reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives,” her office, Kensington Palace, said in a statement.
That message echoes the one that the princess, who has three children with Prince William – Princess Charlotte, 9, and Prince George, 11, and Prince Louis, 6 – gave in an update on her health in September when she said her illness had made her grateful for “simply loving and being loved”.
On a solo trip to Africa last week, Prince William said the princess was doing “really well”, and that she had been “amazing” in 2024.
But he also said it had been “brutal” for the family with the princess’ treatment coming in the wake of his father King Charles’ own cancer diagnosis.
Joining the Princess of Wales and other members of the royal family at Westminster Abbey’s Together At Christmas service will be 1,600 people who have supported others in their communities.
The event, which will be broadcast on Britain’s ITV on Christmas Eve, will also feature performances by singers Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter. REUTERS
