The Wales family leads the royals at Together at Christmas service

The Princess of Wales welcomed the wider Royal Family to her annual Together at Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday evening, including her youngest, Prince Louis, who joined his siblings at the event for the first time.

Catherine has hosted Together at Christmas since 2021, with each year’s carol service themed around a specific area of life in the United Kingdom. The first service celebrated those in the community, while 2022’s celebrated the life and reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

This year’s service recognised the importance of the early years to tie into her campaign Shaping Us and the work of the Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Catherine arrived ahead of the rest of the family and was welcomed outside Westminster Abbey by the Dean. Later, William arrived with their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, all of whom brought cards for the special postbox outside the Abbey.

Cards collected at the carol service will be distributed in the coming days to young people supported by early years organisations in the UK, many of whom may be having a tougher time this holiday season.

The King and Queen had previously announced that they would be unable to attend this year’s carol service due to prior commitments, but the Wales family was joined by many other members of the Royal Family.

The Duchess of Edinburgh arrived solo, as did Princess Eugenie. Princess Beatrice and her husband, Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, brought her stepson, Wolfie. Peter Phillips brought his daughters Savannah and Isla, and Zara Tindall was also with the group.

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester were joined by their daughter Lady Rose Gilman and her husband, George. The Duke of Kent was joined by his daughter, Lady Helen Taylor. Prince Michael of Kent was joined by his children and daughter-in-law, Lord Frederick and Lady Sophie Windsor and Lady Gabriella Kingston, and his granddaughters through Frederick and Sophie, Maud and Isabella. Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of Princess Margaret, attended with her husband, Daniel.

From the Middleton family, Catherine’s parents Michael and Carole Middleton, and sister Pippa and her husband James Matthews attended.

In a promotional video for Together at Christmas, which airs on Christmas Eve on ITV, Catherine said: “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.”