Kate Middleton sported a festive red £1,350 cardigan and white collar from her favourite brand Miu Miu as she appeared in the first trailer for Royal Carols – Together At Christmas.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, beamed in new photos released ahead of the concert, which will be broadcast on Christmas Eve.
‘I’m so excited to be hosting Together At Christmas here at Westminster Abbey,’ Kate told cameras.
The video also show celebrity performers including Leona Lewis, Ellie Goulding and Tom Walker, as well as speaker Kate Garraway appearing at the Westminster Abbey concert – which was filmed on 8th December.
Sporting her hair in a soft ‘bronde’ wave, the royal opted for a natural make-up look for the concert and looked delighted as she sat in pews at the famous abbey where she married Prince William in 2011.
The service has been developed with BBC Studios Events Productions but will be broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve as part of a special programme called Royal Carols: Together At Christmas.
Kate Middleton has appeared in the first trailer for Royal Carols – Together At Christmas, a Christmas carol concert hosted by the Duchess of Cambridge at Westminster Abbey.
The royal added a touch of glamour to her outfit with the Queen Mother’s sapphire and diamond fringe earrings, and recycled her £640 red suede bag by Miu Miu for the occasion, first worn in September 2016.
Previous photos show the mother-of-three debuted a new red Catherine Walker coat dress for the outing, which featured a large bow detailing across the bodice before slipping it off to show off her festive cardigan.
The coat dress, thought to be worth around £3,000, is a new ensemble for the Duchess, who previously wore a black version of the coat to attend Prince Philip’s funeral in April.
The concert was supported by The Royal Foundation and pays tribute to the incredible work of individuals and organisations across the UK who have supported their communities through the pandemic
It was a family affair for the Duchess with her parents Carole and Michael Middleton, as well as her siblings James and Pippa, also in attendance.
The group were also joined by the Countess of Wessex, 55, Princess Beatrice, 33, and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, Princess Eugenie, 31, and Zara, 40, and Mike Tindall, 43, at the service.
The Queen, 95, was not in attendance. The monarch was forced to cancel her annual pre-Christmas lunch this week for the second year in a row due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
She was planning to welcome 50 or so relatives, including Prince Charles and Camilla, to an event at Windsor Castle next week.
X Factor winner Leona Lewis sported a dazzling green dress to perform at the concert. The service, which will include musical performances from stars including Ellie Goulding and Leona Lewis, has been developed with BBC Studios Events Productions but will be broadcast on ITV at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve as part of a special programme called Royal Carols: Together At Christmas
The gig also incorporated a performance of To The Day, a poignant composition created for the service by poet and writer Lemn Sissay, and readings delivered by speakers including The Duke of Cambridge, British Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell and Kate Garraway (pictured). Kate’s husband Derek was seriously ill with Covid
One day after the festive party, the Queen was due to travel by helicopter to Sandringham in Norfolk, where she is set to spend Christmas itself.
However it has now emerged the Queen ‘with regret’ has cancelled her family lunch as a ‘precautionary’ measure, feeling that too many people’s Christmas arrangements were at risk if it went ahead.
Earlier photos show that once inside, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge could be seen wearing black face covering, in accordance with guidance from the abbey. The website details how attendees are ‘encouraged when inside the Abbey and St Margaret’s Church’ to wear masks while social distancing is ‘encouraged in areas which are small and confined.’
Tom Walker was also in attendance. He opted for a cosy Christmas look with a beanie hat and acoustic guitar
What a show! Stunning pictures show Leona Lewis is a sparkling festive number being watched on by famous attendees
Prince William and Kate reportedly dropped the BBC as the broadcaster for their Christmas special in the wake of the two-part series The Princes and the Press, which was criticised by the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for giving credibility to ‘overblown and unfounded claims’ about the Royal Family.
Hosted and spearheaded by The Duchess, and supported by The Royal Foundation, the event paid tribute to the incredible work of individuals and organisations across the UK who have supported their communities through the COVID-19 pandemic.
Filmed for broadcast, the service provided a moment for the nation to come together and reflect, to think not only of the extraordinary challenges that we have faced, but also to celebrate the acts of kindness that we have witnessed across our nation, the communities pulling together to protect and care for those in need, and those who have stepped up to help others.
It combined traditional elements with a modern and inclusive feel to encompass people of all faiths and none, the service featured carols sung by the world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir alongside musical performances by Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding.
The concert combined traditional elements with a modern and inclusive feel to encompass people of all faiths and none, the service featured carols sung by the world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir alongside musical performances by Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding
The Christmas Eve broadcast will feature additional content including an introduction from The Duchess of Cambridge, videos highlighting the efforts of inspirational organisations, and a special performance by Tom Walker of his new Christmas single For Those Who Can’t Be Here
It also incorporated a performance of To The Day, a poignant composition created for the service by poet and writer Lemn Sissay, and readings delivered by speakers including The Duke of Cambridge, British Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell and Kate Garraway.
The Christmas Eve broadcast will feature additional content including an introduction from The Duchess of Cambridge, videos highlighting the efforts of inspirational organisations, and a special performance by Tom Walker of his new Christmas single For Those Who Can’t Be Here.
Unsung heroes from across the length and breadth of the nation were invited to attend the service in recognition of their tireless efforts and selfless acts of kindness despite incredibly difficult circumstances.
Sneak peek: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge earlier this month shared a glimpse of the invitations sent out to guests, pictured, including charity workers, teachers and volunteers
Meanwhile Westminster Abbey also shared a photograph of a candle and the service sheet ahead of the service tonight
Sharing the image online, the tweet read how the service would be ‘reflecting on the extraordinary challenges we have faced in recent times and celebrating the acts of kindness’
Nominations were drawn from Lieutenancies across the UK, alongside community networks, charitable organisations and patronages of Her Majesty The Queen, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall, and The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.
Individuals who The Duke and Duchess have met and spent time with during their recent engagements and project work were also be present, alongside those working in some of the key areas that Their Royal Highnesses and The Royal Foundation continue to focus on.
The congregation also included armed forces personnel who were involved in Operation Pitting, young carers, faith leaders, and guests who may be more vulnerable or isolated within our society.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, was festive in a scarlet Catherine Walker coat as she arrived to host a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey last week
Showing off her maternal side! Kate could be seen sharing a candle with Mila Sneddon, 6, ahead of the Together At Christmas community carol service
Last week, the Duchess of Cambridge shared a snap from inside the abbey as rehearsals got underway.
She posted: ‘Rehearsals ahead of tonight’s #TogetherAtChristmas carol service.
‘We will be reflecting on the extraordinary challenges we have faced in recent times and celebrating the acts of kindness that we have witnessed across the nation as communities pulled together to help each other.’
The Christmas special marks a massive coup for ITV, which usually loses out on royal content to the BBC
An industry insider said earlier this month: ‘It was all arranged to be on BBC1 but it was switched in the last few days because of the terrible row over the documentary.
‘And things are likely to get a lot worse between the Royal Family and the BBC before they get better as the second part of the documentary threatens to go further.’
The second part of the documentary, which aired last week, saw Meghan Markle’s lawyer issue a technical and bizarre denial the Duchess had ever bullied staff – before insisting ‘but she wouldn’t want to negate anyone’s personal experiences.’
The programme also said people connected to both the Cambridges and Sussexes briefed about the other.
Good Morning Britain presenter Kate Garraway, who previously met Kate and Will at the Pride of Britain awards, was in attendance at the event
The Countess wrapped up in a maroon coat as she swept out of the service in London this evening
It was a rare public family outing for the Duchess of Cambridge’s family, with her sister Pippa and her parents Carole and Michael
Kate’s sister Pippa cut an elegant figure in a forest green coat which she paired with black accessories during her evening out with the family
New mother Princess Beatrice wore a stunning tan coat dress for the occasion, which she paired with navy velvet heels and a maroon hairband
Beatrice was joined by her husband Edoardo at the service in London this evening, where they could be seen chatting with attendees
Kensington Palace declined to comment.
Kate will no doubt be hoping to brush aside any rumblings over the documentary ahead of the carol service.
Posting about the carol service on Instagram, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge wrote: ‘This Christmas we are celebrating the incredible work of individuals and organisations across the nation who go above and beyond to support their communities.
‘Next week, The Duchess will host a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, supported by The Royal Foundation, bringing many of those inspirational people together.
‘The service, which will be broadcast in December, will look back on the last eighteen months, to think not only of the unprecedented challenges that we have all faced as we continue to navigate the COVID-19 pandemic, but also to remember the positives: people and organisations pulling together in their communities, the small acts of kindness across different demographics and generations, and the unsung heroes who stepped up to help others.’
Speaking about the decision to drop the BBC for the Christmas concert, a TV industry source told the Sun: ‘It is a brand new format — the royals have never hosted a televised TV concert before. And to have the Duchess leading on it is a big deal.
‘Naturally most royal programming goes automatically to the BBC as the national broadcaster. Now it looks like they will work more with ITV in the future.’
The source said ITV was ‘surprised but delighted’ by the sudden change of plan, adding, ‘it will be a fantastic Christmas carol concert that will be TV gold for viewers at home.’