The Princess of Wales will host her annual "Together at Christmas" carol service at Westminster Abbey for the fifth consecutive year. The event brings together 1,600 guests including Hollywood stars, community heroes, and members of the royal family to celebrate love and recognize those who dedicate their time to helping others.
The service has become a cornerstone of the royal calendar, highlighting individuals from across the UK who have volunteered, led community initiatives, or offered help to those in need. This year's theme centers on celebrating love in all its forms while acknowledging the deep connections that bind communities together.
Star-studded performances and readings
Hollywood actors Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor will deliver readings at the service. The Prince of Wales will also give a reading.
Musical performances will feature Katie Melua, Fisherman's Friends, pop artist Griff, actress Hannah Waddingham, and Dan Smith from pop rock band Bastille. Celebrity chef Dame Mary Berry has contributed by creating a Christmas wreath on display at the Abbey.
Community heroes honored
Among the 1,600 guests are remarkable individuals who embody the service's spirit. Schoolgirl Madison Reed, who raised more than £1,360 for the Archie Foundation through highland dancing at 26 locations across Scotland, will attend.
Members of England's women's rugby World Cup winning squad—Rosie Galligan, Helena Rowland, Jess Breach, and Marlie Packer—join fellow athletes including Wales women's rugby captain Alex Callender, Lioness Michelle Agyemang from England's Euro 2025 winning team, and former England rugby captain Lewis Moody, who recently announced he has motor neurone disease.
Second World War veterans will be honored guests. Corporal Jack Mortimer of the Royal Army Ordnance Corps landed on Sword Beach on D-Day. John Eskdale saw combat with Malta Convoys in 1942 and participated in the invasion of Sicily in summer 1943. Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, whom the Princess photographed in 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, will also attend.
Royal family expected
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis are expected to make an appearance, as they did at last year's service. Other members of the royal family will also attend.
Christmas wreaths created by Dame Mary Berry and Ambassadors and Friends of the Royal Horticultural Society alongside schoolchildren are displayed throughout the Abbey.
Message of connection
The Princess penned a letter to all guests praising the invited community stalwarts for making an «extraordinary difference to the lives of others.» In the letter, she reflects on «how deeply our lives are woven together.»
In times that may feel «fragmented or uncertain,» the service «invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another,» the Princess wrote.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
