The Princess in Winter White Ensemble for Christmas Carol Concert

The Princess of Wales chose a winter white ensemble for the taping of “Royal Carols: Together At Christmas” tonight.

A quick video as the Princess arrived at Westminster Abbey, where the concert was taped. 

https://twitter.com/wabbey/status/1733157658167767132?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

The Princess and the Very Reverend Dr. David Hoyle MBE, Dean of Westminster.

The carol service will air on Christmas Eve on ITV and ITVX—more from this ITV piece. 

The service, supported by The Royal Foundation, will honour those who work to support babies, young children and families in communities across the UK.

Linked to Kate’s Shaping Us campaign, the service will showcase “the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives”.

The Christmas Eve broadcast will also feature additional content, including an introduction by Kate and films emphasising the importance of early childhood.

Also at tonight’s concert, a host of royal family members, including the Duchess of Edinburgh.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester. 

Princess Beatrice, her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, and his son, Christopher “Wolfie” Woolf.

Princess Eugenie.

Savannah and Isla Phillips.

The Phillips girls arrived with their father, Peter Phillips, and their aunt, Zara Tindall.

Lady Sarah Chatto (Princess Margaret’s daughter) and her husband, Daniel, with their son, Samuel.

Lord Frederick Windsor, his wife Sophie, and their daughters Maud and Isabella. 
Embed from Getty Images

Lord Frederick’s sister, Lady Gabriella Kingston, and their father, Prince Michael of Kent.

The Princess’s parents, Michael and Carole Middleton.

And her sister, Pippa, with her husband James Matthews.

Performers were dressed in seasonal colors. Below, Beverly Knight.

Adam Lambert, who has a duet with Ms. Knight in the concert.

And ITV presenter Emma Willis.

The Princess arrived before her family and spent time speaking with guests. I believe this is seven-year-old Oscar Burrow. The Telegraph reports, “he climbed 12 mountains raising more than £40,000 for Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, Lancs, at the age of six.”

More about tonight’s guests from The Telegraph’s article.

They included young fundraising heroes, midwives, teachers, carers, health visitors, volunteers and families who have faced their own challenges and come to the attention of the Princess during the course of her work.

The Princess spoke to four scouts from the 3rd Upton Scout Group in Slough that her family visited during the coronation celebration weekend, part of The Big Help Out event, aiding the renovation of their hut.

The Princess told them that “it was really inspiring – seriously good job” and high-fived each scout in turn.

A quick video from Richard Palmer of The Express. 

https://twitter.com/RoyalReporter/status/1733162741349634553?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

ITV noted in its story, “Attendees have been nominated by lord-lieutenants across the nation, in addition to charities associated with members of the royal family.”

The Princess also chatted with those performing in the concert.

The Daily Mail reports, “She told Lambert, who was the first singer on stage at the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee last year when he sang We Will Rock You with Brian May: ‘I was a big fan of your performance at the jubilee. Thanks for being here.’”

She then went back outside to greet Prince William and the three Wales children.

Another quick video. 

https://twitter.com/wabbey/status/1733169482988650760?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

The children as they greeted the Dean.

This is the first year Prince Louis has attended the service. Last year, only Prince George and Princess Charlotte took part (seen below), and none of the children were at the first concert in 2021.

This year, there was a special post box outside the Abbey. We return to the ITV story.

New features this year include a Christmas post box located outside the abbey for children to send handmade Christmas cards and best wishes to other youngsters who might be struggling this festive season.

The Wales children brought cards they made and placed them in the box. 
Embed from Getty Images

Young Wolfie drops off his card.
Embed from Getty Images
More from this Daily Mail piece. 

The Christmas cards will be distributed by charities, including Child Bereavement UK, East Anglia Children’s Hospice, Evelina London and the British Red Cross, as a surprise gift to children. The Princess of Wales encouraged guests to bring a card for children who might struggling this year. 

Prince George’s letter was addressed to Tony, potentially Tony Hudgell, the nine-year-old boy who has raised millions of pounds walking vast distances on prosthetics after his legs were amputated in infancy due to horrific abuse. 

The Princess with Tony at the 2021 concert.

And just this past week at Evelina Children’s Hospital
Embed from Getty Images
Princess Charlotte and Prince George as the family headed inside.

Prince Louis was fascinated by a giant nutcracker.

And inside the Abbey.

Another view.

In this image, you can see the Duchess of Edinburgh on the far left.

More on the actual service from The Daily Mail’s coverage. 

The service began with the popular carol, Once In Royal David’s City, and the congregation also heard a duet by Beverley Knight and Adam Lambert who performed The Christmas Song, made famous by Nat King Cole.

William read the passage from the Gospel according to Luke that describes how Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem to be registered and the birth of Jesus.

The Mail also reports, “The Abbey echoed with the voices of its choir and the congregation singing a selection of carols including Silent Night, Holy Night and Joy To The World, as well as Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

Some of the trees decorating the Abbey are from Windsor Great Park. They were donated by the King and will be distributed to local communities.  

The King did not attend the concert because he was hosting “A Celebration of Craft” at Highgrove.
Embed from Getty Images
The Wales children after the concert.

Westminster Abbey posted a video of the family leaving after the concert.

https://twitter.com/wabbey/status/1733186417063329965?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

The concert airs at 7:45pm local time on Christmas Eve. If I find a link allowing those outside the UK to watch it, I will post it here and on Facebook.

Here is a video from tonight shared by Kensington Palace.

https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1733211551551652159?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

Now for our look at what Kate wore, beginning with the surprise designer of her coat.

The coat is a bespoke piece by Chris Kerr, a Savile Row tailor catering primarily to male clients. The single-breasted coat features peaked lapels, angled flap pockets, a deep back vent, and flared cuffs with one button.  

More on the look from Bethan Holt’s column in The Telegraph. 

After an autumn in which many of the Princess’s outfits have been some variation on a suit, this immaculately tailored bespoke coat represents her firm commitment to sleek suiting.

“Part of a generation of tailors who were trained in Savile Row tradition but set up shop in Soho, Chris Kerr – which was founded by Kerr’s father Eddie – specialises in classic, masculine suiting. Nothing wildly experimental, just handsome, exceptionally made tailoring,” says Stephen Doig, The Telegraph’s men’s style editor.

“Part of the appeal for the Princess may well be the fact that the brand is well-versed in celebrity and the importance of discretion, and that the end product just works – Chris Kerr has made suits for myriad films, including dressing Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible and the debonair cast of the Kingsman movies. 

Beneath the coat, it looks like the Princess brought back her Kiltane Cashmere Crew Neck Jumper ($153) in soft white.

She sported a new pair of trousers that appear to be Holland Cooper’s High-Waisted Straight Trouser (£299, about $375 at today’s exchange rates). The style is “hand cut and made in England using wool woven in the UK.” It features a wide waistband and belt loops, side pockets, a front zipper, and goldtone Holland Cooper hardware.

Thank you to Middleton Maven for this ID. 

The Princess carried a new bag by Strathberry, the Scottish-based brand’s Mosaic Top Handled Bag ($555) measuring roughly 5″ x 7″ by 3.5″ deep. The Mosaic has a removable shoulder strap, one interior pocket, and the label’s signature metal bar on the front flap.

I show the bag at Saks in a color called ‘vanilla.’ It is available in a slightly larger size at Strathberry in multiple colors, including ‘oat,’ but not the lighter-toned ‘vanilla’ shown here. Thanks again go to Middleton Maven for the ID. UPDATE 11 PM: The bag is available called the Mosaic Nano on the Strathberry site ($555). It is also available at Bloomingdale’s. 

The Princess wore her Bisque Suede Gianvito 105 Heels ($795), the classic point-toe style with a 4″ stiletto heel.

We saw the return of the Van Cleef and Arpels’ Alhambra’ earrings ($6400) in 18K gold and mother of pearl.

Here is a look at all three ensembles, tonight’s, and the Eponine London worn last year, with the Catherine Walker ‘Beaux Tie’ worn in 2021 on the far right.

Also tonight, a look at a promo for the concert released yesterday by ITV. 

https://twitter.com/ITV/status/1733033905488326710?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener

In the promo, the Princess says, “Join me this Christmas Eve for a special carol service, as we say a heartfelt thank you to all those supporting the very youngest members of our society during those crucial early years.”

It looks like the Princess was in a Self Portrait Pearl Trimmed Jacket ($502, no longer available). The piece is crafted in a poly/cotton/wool bouclé fabric embellished with faux pearls and sequins. It features four pockets fastened with “pearl” buttons, a rounded collar, and a button front. A similar cropped version is available.

The Princess accessorized with her J. Crew earrings, shown here when worn on another occasion. 

I will leave you with one more photo from tonight’s concert.

VIDEOS:

The Royal Family Channel offers 2:30 of coverage in this video.