Princess Kate is making her second annual Royal Christmas Concert a family affair.
King Charles and his wife Queen Consort Camilla have been confirmed as guests this year, joining the royal and her husband Prince William in singing some seasonal tunes during the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas event which will be held at Westminster Abbey on December 15. This concert unites members of the royal family with charity staff, community volunteers, frontline workers, military personnel and other important members of the community to “celebrate the joy that human connection can bring,” according to a release by Buckingham Palace. This year, the event will also feature a special carol service dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth highlighting a few of the core values she embodied throughout her 70-year reign, such as empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion, and supporting others. The palace noted, “These principles are shared and personified by the inspirational guests who have been invited to the Abbey from across the U.K. in recognition of their tireless efforts to help and care for those around them.”
The Together at Christmas concert, organized by Princess Kate with the support of the Royal Foundation, is meant to extend the spirit of the holidays to all people, regardless of faith, while also blending together traditional and modern seasonal elements. Westminster Abbey will also be decorated for the yuletide, providing the perfect backdrop for various musical performances, which last year included Ellie Goulding, Scottish singer Tom Walker, Leona Lewis, and the Abbey Choir. Kate also gave her first public performance on the piano, duetting with Walker on the song “For Those Who Can’t Be Here,” while Prince William gave a reading from Luke 2:1-7 while surrounded by Christmas trees donated by the Queen from Windsor Great Park.
This year, guests can once again expect the Abbey Choir to lead them in singing traditional carols, as well as performances from Craig David, Les Miserables star Samantha Barks, and a special duet between opera singer Alfie Boe and former Spice Girl Melanie C. The Christmas Eve broadcast will also be narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones, and include readings delivered by the Prince of Wales, Kristin Scott Thomas, and Paddington star Hugh Bonneville.
Last month, Kate also asked the British public for a little help choosing the final song of the night. The official Prince and Princess of Wales Twitter account retweeted a poll created by Good Morning Britain, writing, “Help us decide the final carol for Together At Christmas.” The morning news show’s original tweet read, “The Princess of Wales would like your help to choose the final carol for this year’s Together at Christmas service at Westminster Abbey, broadcast on ITV on Christmas Eve. Which is your favorite?” Fans could then choose one of three options already pre-approved by the royal: “Hark! The Herald,” “Joy To The World,” or the current leader, “O Come, All Ye Faithful.”
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