King Charles Absent from Kate Middleton's Christmas Carol Service, Despite Royal Crowd

Princess Kate of Wales hosted her fifth annual "Together at Christmas" carol service at Westminster Abbey in London on December 5, drawing a distinguished royal audience, although King Charles and Queen Camilla were noticeably absent.

The festive gathering included Zara Tindall and her husband Mike Tindall, Lord Frederick Windsor with his wife Sophie Winkelman and their daughters Maud, 12, and Isabella, 9. Princess Margaret's daughter, Lady Sarah Chatto, also attended, alongside Prince William with Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7.

Other royal guests included Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, the Duchess of Gloucester, and Prince Michael of Kent, Queen Elizabeth's first cousin. Despite the high-profile attendees, King Charles and Queen Camilla have not participated in the service since 2022, when it was dedicated to the late Queen Elizabeth.

Given that the event is one of Kate's key initiatives, she and Prince William were the senior royals present, allowing Princess Kate to take center stage. King Charles, 77, shares a close relationship with Kate, describing her as "my beloved daughter-in-law" at a state banquet in Kenya in 2023. Their bond has deepened following both their cancer diagnoses in 2024.

Supporting Princess Kate were also her family members: her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, along with her brother James Middleton and his wife Alize Thevenet.

The service also featured celebrity guests, including Eugene Levy, Dame Mary Berry, Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Dan Smith, who participated as speakers or performers. Hannah Waddingham, though unable to perform due to vocal issues, attended as a guest.

Since its launch in 2021, the "Together at Christmas" carol service has celebrated individuals across the U.K. who contributed to their communities during the pandemic. The 2025 service focused on "love in all its forms," with a congregation of 1,600 people, emphasizing connection and compassion during the holiday season.

Author: Maya Henderson