Princess Catherine reveals sneak peek of royal Christmas carol service

Princess Catherine has released a sweet new video ahead of the upcoming broadcast of her annual Christmas event.

Princess Catherine has released a sweet new video of the upcoming broadcast of her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey which she hosted earlier in December.

The teaser video, posted by the Royal Foundation on X (formerly Twitter), shows singers Adam Lambert and Beverley Knight speaking about the importance of helping young people flourish.

The Princess of Wales was joined by her children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, her husband Prince William and several other members of the royal family for the heartwarming event.

Catherine, Princess of Wales during the Together at Christmas carol service. Picture: Getty Images

Catherine, Princess of Wales with Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis and the Reverend David Stanton. Picture: Getty Images

The service, which is part of Catherine’s early childhood Shaping Us campaign, showcases “the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives”.

Readings were given by Prince William, TV presenter Roman Kemp and actor Jim Broadbent.

A specially commissioned poem, written by Joseph Coelho, the British Children’s Laureate, was read by Leonie Elliott.

The event also featured 12 young carers – the youngest of which is just six years old – from the Action for Children Young Carers Aloud choir, who sang carols and Christmas songs upon the guests’ arrival.

PRINCE ANDREW ATTENDS ROYAL CHRISTMAS BASH

Prince Andrew has arrived at the royal family’s traditional Christmas lunch amid a storm over the release of hundreds of documents containing the names of around 170 people with links to convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

The Duke of York was pictured arriving at Windsor Castle for the lunch, which is held each year before the royals head to Sandringham for Christmas Day celebrations.

It comes as Judge Loretta Preska has ruled that material related to Johanna Sjoberg should be unsealed in a fortnight’s time.

Ms Sjoberg has accused Prince Andrew of groping her breasts at Epstein’s New York mansion in 2001 when she was 21.

Prince Andrew denies the allegations.

Prince Andrew at last year’s Christmas Day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham. Picture: AFP

HOW THE ROYALS WILL SPEND CHRISTMAS

King Charles and Queen Camilla prepare to lead the annual Christmas Day festivities at Sandringham, where they will take part in the annual walk to church, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

Final preparations are taking place head of the arrival of senior royals at the Norfolk country estate, where the family has celebrated Christmas for generations.

This years’s festivities are set to be bigger than previous years and it is believed around 40 guests will take part in the lavish celebrations, with Christmas lunch being moved from the dining room to the large ballroom.

Prince George walks behind Queen Camilla and King Charles at last year’s Sandringham church service. Picture: AFP

The Palace’s statement revealed that members of the royal family would be joining the King and Queen, although did not clarify exactly who.

Here’s who has received a much-coveted invite to the traditional royal Christmas celebrations, which this year includes some surprise new invitees, and who is unlikely to make the cut.

PRINCE AND PRINCESS OF WALES

It is expected that Prince William and Princess Catherine, whose country retreat Anmer Hall is just a short drive from Sandringham House, will join King Charles for Christmas celebrations.

All eyes will no doubt be on the future king as he and his wife walk to St Mary Magdalene Church with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis om Christmas morning.

Prince William and his family will be front and centre at Sandringham this Christmas. Picture: AFP

The Sandringham Christmas festivities are steeped in tradition and follow the same format each year.

Following a German tradition that was started by Queen Victoria’s husband Prince Albert, the royals exchange gifts on Christmas Eve instead of Christmas Day.

The family is also known to swap gag presents instead of expensive gifts, with claims Catherine once gave her then single brother-in-law Prince Harry a plastic Grow Your Own Girlfriend kit.

The Princess of Wales once gave Prince Harry a cheeky gift before relations turned sour. Picture: AFP

After the morning church service, the royals then retreat to Sandringham House for a traditional Christmas lunch of roast turkey, potatoes, stuffing and pudding.

Following the festive lunch, the family tunes in to the monarch’s annual televised address, which airs at 3pm in the UK.

PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE

After weeks of speculation, it is now believed that Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be giving the royal festivities a wide berth and will instead spend December 25 in California with their children.

Royal expert Jennie Bond told The Sun that Prince William would not be “shedding a tear” over his younger brother’s absence.

The Sussexes dazzle the crowds during one of their Sandringham appearances. Picture: AFP

The relationship between the once close brothers is said to be non-existent since Prince Harry’s explosive royal revelations and allegations in his Netflix series and tell-all autobiography, Spare.

“Deep down, I’m sure he still loves Harry, but I don’t think he can see a way out of the rift that has opened between them,” Ms Bond said.

Meghan Markle and Prince Harry will likely spend the big day in California. Picture: AFP

“I think William has closed his mind to the prospect of reconciliation with Harry, and I can’t see a time when Meghan would be welcomed back into the bosom of the family — or a time when she would ever want to be welcomed back.

“I doubt that William thinks about them for more than a fleeting moment — and then he probably tries to blank out those thoughts.”

PRINCE ANDREW AND FERGIE

Although unconfirmed, it is expected that Prince Andrew and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson will be part of the royal celebrations.

Despite his controversies of recent years, which has included a long-running battle to avoid eviction from his sprawling Royal Lodge estate, the Duke of York remains firmly within the royal fold.

If he does attend, it is likely that his daughters Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie will also be there with their families.

His ex-wife Fergie, who for years was barred by Prince Philip from spending Christmas with the royals due to her numerous scandals, is now back in favour.

QUEEN CAMILLA’S FAMILY

This year marks the first time that the family of Queen Camilla will be attending the royal celebrations.

A royal source told ITV: “The Queen has invited her children and grandchildren this year which is different from previous years.”

The son and daughter of Queen Camilla – Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles – will attend for the first time. Picture: Getty Images

Camilla’s two children from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, Tom and Laura, will be there along with her five grandchildren — Lola, Freddie, Eliza, Gus and Louis.

A doting mother and grandmother, Queen Camilla paid a subtle tribute to her family at the coronation in May by having the names of her children and grandchildren embroidered on her Bruce Oldfield gown.

Zara Phillips and husband Mike Tindall have long been guests at Sandringham. Picture: AP

PRINCESS ANNE, PRINCE EDWARD

Continuing a long tradition, King, Charles’ other two siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward are expected to attend.

Princess Anne’s children Peter Phillips and Zara Tindall, her son-in-law Mike Tindall and grandchildren will also be on the guest list.

Their daughters and son will also be at the bash.

Prince Edward is likely to be at Sandringham with his wife Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, along with their two children James, the Earl of Wessex and Lady Louise Windsor, who is on her Christmas break from St Andrews University in Scotland.

Originally published as Princess Catherine reveals sneak peek of royal Christmas carol service