Christmas Carol Services Old & New

On Friday, Kensington Palace announced that that the Princess of Wales will again host a Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey this year. The carol service will take place (and be recorded) on December 15th. The program will air to the public on Christmas Eve. The concert will be in memory of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

The Princess of Wales used a charming video to announce the event. It featured an artist painting a sketch of Westminster Abbey at Christmastime, with concert attendees headed toward the door and a few little corgis in the mix. Kate has such an eye for beauty and tradition, and her signature was all over this lovely announcement.

Fans wondered if Kate—who has demonstrated real skill at sketching herself—was the hand drawing and painting in the Instagram reel, but I tend to think it was not. The ring the artist was wearing is not Kate’s style; Kate rarely paints her nails; and the artist appears to have a little freckle on her knuckle, which Kate doesn’t have. I think it was some other talented lady.

I am sure I am not alone in saying that I hope this Christmas concert becomes an annual event for Kate. Old timers will fondly recall the days when the St. Luke’s carol service was the Christmas event where we would see Kate.

The annual carol service at St. Luke’s in Chelsea is a fundraising event for the Henry van Straubenzee memorial fund. Henry van Straubenzee was a classmate of Prince Harry’s at Ludgrove and a friend to both royal brothers. And, of course, William is also good friends with the elder van Straubenzee, Thomas. Henry was tragically killed at 18 years old when the car he was a passenger in crashed into a tree. William and Harry became patrons of the charity set up in Henry van Straubenzee’s honor. 

I remember one year, Kate was spotted at the refreshment table after the carol concert pouring wine. The report at the time was that she was volunteering and pouring the concert-goers wine. She was also spotted helping to clean up.

In the early days of “Kate watching,” a photo like this could be the single shot we got of Kate in an entire month, so we really looked forward to the service. It was also such a cozy, Christmas-y event in the run-up to the holiday.

Although Kate has not attended the concert in years, the Middletons still turn up. A brief and non-exhaustive list… In 2015, Carole, Pippa, and William were all at the service.

In 2018, Harry and Meghan attended the concert. Meghan even read a poem.

Pippa and James Matthews, and James Middleton and Alizee were also there that year.

Pippa and James Matthews and Carole Middleton were back in 2019.

Although it seems that the St. Luke’s carol service is off Kate’s calendar, it would be so lovely if Westminster Abbey became the annual carol event we anticipate with Kate. Given her status as Princess of Wales, it would be like her Christmas event grew with her.