Duchess Kate Decorated Westminster Abbey For Her Christmas Carol Service
Duchess Kate got into the festive spirit before recording a special community Christmas carol service earlier this month by helping decorate London’s grand royal church, Westminster Abbey.
The Duchess of Cambridge spent time at the venue one day before the December 8 event, which was recorded for a special Christmas Eve broadcast, by helping prepare Christmas trees donated by the queen from Windsor Great Park and arranging wreaths donated by the Royal Horticultural Society.
Kate revealed that she wanted to thank those who went “above and beyond” to support their communities during the pandemic.
Deck the halls! Duchess Kate got into the festive spirit before recording a special community Christmas carol service earlier this month by helping decorate London’s grand royal church, Westminster Abbey.
The Duchess of Cambridge spent time at the venue one day before the December 8 event, which was recorded for a special Christmas Eve broadcast, by helping prepare Christmas trees donated by the queen from Windsor Great Park and arranging wreaths donated by the Royal Horticultural Society, which the monarch is official patron of.
Wearing a bright-red Miu Miu sweater, Kate can be seen smiling in photos shared by Kensington Palace as she joins Abbey marshal Leticia Cachoeira Edwards to attach bows to one of the several trees being set up at the historic venue. After decorating, the duchess sat down to record a special message to introduce Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, the British television broadcast of her community carol service.
Explaining why she wanted to host the event, Kate revealed that she wanted to thank those who went “above and beyond” to support their communities during the pandemic, celebrate acts of kindness that have been witnessed across the country, and recognize others who have struggled over the past two years.
“We’ve been through such a bleak time,” she said. “We’ve seen so many challenges. We’ve lost our loved ones. We’ve seen our frontline workers under immense pressure. And also we’ve been more emotionally and socially distanced and isolated from each other. But I suppose through that separation, we’ve also realized how much we need each other and how acts of kindness and love can really bring us comfort and relief in times of distress.”
She added, “Music was so important to me during the pandemic, as I think it was to so many people too. But above all, it’s about celebrating the goodwill, the acts of kindness, love, empathy, and compassion to help people come through these difficult times. I hope everyone can enjoy this evening with their family and friends. And I wish you a very merry Christmas and happy New Year.”
Royal Carols: Together at Christmas was conceptualized by Kate, spearheaded by The Royal Foundation, and attended by a number of unsung heroes from across the United Kingdom in recognition of their efforts to protect and care for those around them. The service—which Prince William attended alongside his wife—includes performances from Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding, as well as appearances from Harry Potter actor Tom Felton and poet Lemn Sissay.
Later this week, the Cambridges are expected to join the queen for a pared-down Christmas gathering at Windsor Castle, a change from the traditional Sandringham location in order to keep the monarch in the COVID-safe bubble she has been living in. They’ll be joined by other family members, including Prince Edward and Countess Sophie, but Buckingham Palace today confirmed that Princess Anne won’t be present due to her husband, Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, testing positive for COVID. Instead, the queen’s daughter will remain isolated over the holidays.
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