The Princess of Wales’s annual Christmas carol concert is set to take place at Westminster Abbey next week – and new details about the service have been released
Brand new details about the Princess of Wales’s annual Christmas carol concert have been released – just days away from the big event.
The Princess of Wales will celebrate the themes of ‘love, compassion and connection’ this year at her annual Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
The fifth ‘Together At Christmas’ service will welcome 1,600 individuals from across the UK who dedicated or volunteered their time helping charities and organisations that serve others throughout the year.
The world-renowned Westminster Abbey choir will sing some of the nation’s most beloved carols, alongside musical performances from actor Hannah Waddingham, British singers Katie Melua, Dan Smith, and Griff, as well as Cornish folk music group, Fisherman’s Friends.
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Guests will also enjoy a special performance by young performers from Platinum Performing Arts, an organisation based in the heart of the community in Edmonton, North London.
During the service, poignant readings linked to the theme of love, compassion and connection will be delivered by speakers including the Prince of Wales, Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Babatunde Aléshé and Joe Locke, whose reading will be accompanied by pianist Paul Gladstone Reid. Spearheaded by the Princess, and supported by The Royal Foundation, the service will “bring people together to celebrate love in all its forms – whether it’s love within families, through friendships, across communities, or powerful moments of kindness between strangers”, Kensington Palace said.
On Friday December 5, the Prince and Princess of Wales will be joined by members of the Royal Family and recognisable faces “who in their own ways have created and shown love to foster compassion and togetherness”, the palace said. For the first time at the concert, guests will also be joined by a live illustrator, who will be sketching snapshots of the atmosphere inside the Abbey in real time. Acknowledging the importance of nature as a source of connection in our lives, plantsman and horticulturist Jamie Butterworth will be creating a natural, festive environment outside of the Abbey.
His designs will see a collection of stunning British woodland trees in their natural winter state, interwoven with fruits, berries and Christmas trees. They will celebrate the beauty of nature at Christmas time and create a magical wonderland for guests from the moment they arrive at the Abbey.
The living plants and trees will be coming from Form Plants in Weybridge and returning there after the service. In addition, The Royal Horticultural Society and florist Simon Lycett will be donating wreaths for display inside Westminster Abbey.
The wreaths have been made in partnership with RHS Ambassadors and schoolchildren including Dame Mary Berry and Arit Anderson, as well as friends of the RHS including comedian Tom Allen and presenter Angelica Bell. There will also be a ‘Connection Tree’ supported by Hobbycraft, at which guests will be able to add their own named loop onto a paper chain adorning the tree, symbolising the power of togetherness and the importance of moments of connection with one another.
On arrival at the Abbey, guests will be welcomed with music by eight young performers aged between 13 and 18 from Future Talent, a charity co-founded by the Late Duchess of Kent to support musically gifted children from low-income backgrounds. They will be performing as a brass ensemble specially brought together for the event.
Guests will also be treated to mince pies donated by Fortnum & Mason and after the service will have the opportunity to come together and enjoy a hot chocolate, provided by The Royal Foundation.
The event will be broadcast as part of Royal Carols: Together At Christmas, a special programme airing on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve with a repeat showing on Christmas Day morning.
The broadcast, co-produced by BBC Studios Events and The Royal Foundation, will feature two special films which bring to life the stories of people and organisations who have shown love, joy and compassion to others in their times of need.
Following the service, congregational candles from Westminster Abbey will be donated to the Church Candle Challenge, a recycling candle initiative based in St. Peter’s Church in Prestbury, Cheshire.
Alongside the service at Westminster Abbey, 15 community carol services involving nearly 6,000 people will be taking place around the UK across December to provide a moment for people to come together and celebrate community work during the festive season.
Hosted by Lord Lieutenants, and supported by The Royal Foundation, these events will be tailored to their local communities whilst also including elements of the Westminster Abbey service.
