Kate confides she didn’t know of the year to come battling cancer

Princess delivers heartfelt messages at annual Christmas service, with themes of love and kindness taking on new relevance after her own year of battling cancer.

The Princess of Wales arrived to cheers from guests as she hosted her annual Christmas carol service in London on Friday night and confided to the singer Paloma Faith “I didn’t know this time last year it was going to be the year I’ve just had’’.

Catherine looked radiant arriving by herself early to Westminster Abbey to greet the 1600 guests and carol singers in a rare public appearance after battling cancer this year.

The service which was recorded for broadcast on Christmas Eve, was dedicated to people who have “shown love, kindness and empathy to others in their communities” as well as those who have “inspired, counselled, comforted, and highlighted how love unites and connects us all”.

Catherine, 42, had penned a message to the guests, many of whom have battled cancer, such as Team GB Olympic gold medal winning cyclist Chris Hoy, and Strictly Coming dancing professional Amy Dowden. She had written: “Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times.”

Meeting attendees at the Together At Christmas carol service. Picture: Isabel Infantes / POOL / AFP

The traditional Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey closed a painful year for the Princess, marked by her cancer. Picture: Aaron Chown / AFP

The Prince of Wales later brought along their three children Princes George and Louis and Princess Charlotte, all wearing co-ordinated red and navy outfits and they left messages on the Kindness Tree at the front of the Abbey. Six year old Louis’ message was an apparent reference to Carole and Michael Middleton saying: “Thank you to granny and grandpa because they have played games with me.”

The princess wore a bright red coat with an oversized black bow over a tartan skirt and a pair of long black suede heeled boots.

The service resonated deeply with the royals given the cancer battles of both King Charles and Catherine throughout the year. It was only in September that Catherine revealed that she had finished chemotherapy for a cancer that had been detected in February.

King Charles, who continues to be treated for his cancer, sent trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate the church but did not attend. Neither did Queen Camilla who has been recovering from pneumonia. Among the guests were Princess Beatrice and her family, Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh and members of Catherine’s side of the family including her parents, sister and brother.

Prince William gave a reading saying: “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness – on them, light has shined.

“For a child has been born for us, a son given to us; authority rests upon his shoulders; and he is named Wonderful Counsellor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”

The service also included a reading from Charles Dickens’s Christmas Carol by Richard E. Grant, performances from the Royal Ballet, songs from Gregory Porter and Paloma Faith and the lighting of candles.