S Poddar
The Princess of Wales has invited families who suffered in the heart-wrenching incidents in Southport to her annual Christmas carol service, Kensington Palace said.
The fourth Together At Christmas service is to be held at Westminster Abbey on 6 December. As with the other events, this one will mean much more this year, as the timing coincides with a difficult time for Catherine who, following her diagnosis and treatment of cancer, has been away from public engagements for much of the year.
In October, Catherine accompanied the Prince of Wales to Southport in her first official public engagement since completing chemotherapy. On their visit, the royal couple privately met with the grieving families of three children who lost their lives in the devastating knife attack that took place in July.
According to royal sources, the princess wanted to attend this event with Prince William because of her “continued support, sympathy, and compassion to the local community.”
The children who were attacked were Bebe King (6), Elsie Dot Stancombe (7), and Alice Dasilva Aguiar (9), who were in a children’s dance group on the day of the attack, which occurred on 29 July 2024. The Prince and Princess of Wales spent time listening to the parents as well as other families of the victims and subsequently passed on the thanks of the families to the emergency services, who had given them life-saving attention during the disaster.
This month, Catherine, 42, was seen again in public-appearing alongside King Charles and other senior royals at Remembrance events in London, cementing her steady return to royal engagements.
The Together At Christmas service, close to the princess’s heart, is being supported by the Royal Foundation, which champions the charitable efforts of the Prince and Princess of Wales. An estimated 1,600 guests are expected at the service, including members of the Royal Family and individuals nominated for exceptional efforts in supporting their communities, whether through professional work or voluntary contributions.
The honorees were chosen by charities linked to the Royal Family or selected by lord lieutenants who act as representatives of the King in each county in the UK.
The service will take place this year with performers including Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean, and Gregory Porter, imbuing the occasion with a touch of musical magic. ITV1 will screen it as a special Christmas Eve broadcast.
In addition to the Westminster Abbey service, 15 Together At Christmas events will take place around the country, including at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and Blackpool Tower Circus. These events hope to unite people in order to celebrate the strength of community and compassion during the festive season.
According to Kensington Palace, the event was “a moment to reflect upon the importance of love and empathy, and how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives.” The princess hopes the event will shine a spotlight on the people selflessly supporting others when comfort and inspiration are needed most.
In Catherine’s words, the event seeks to “celebrate the many people supporting those in need—individuals who have inspired, counselled, comforted, and above all else shown that love is the greatest gift we can receive.”
The service will therefore prove to be a poignant reminder of shared strength in dire times while being a celebratory event of the human spirit that she, the Princess of Wales, continues on with her mission to focus on acts of love and resilience.
