The Princess of Wales bravely took her first main position since her most cancers ordeal tonight as she hosted her annual Christmas Carol Service along with her husband and kids by her aspect.

It marked her greatest royal return of the yr, as as a substitute of taking a supporting position Kate, 42, was centre stage in an enormous private second for the long run Queen.

“Love is the sunshine that may shine brilliant, even in our darkest occasions,” Kate wrote in a letter to the 1,600 company invited to the Westminster Abbey live performance on Friday.

It highlights the themes of her Collectively at Christmas Carol Service, that are kindness, love, empathy, and being there for one another by means of powerful occasions.

Kate’s emotional message calling for “love, not worry” comes after the Prince of Wales described this yr as “brutal” following his spouse’s shock most cancers analysis earlier this yr.

It additionally got here shortly after his father, the King, was identified with the identical illness.

The princess spent months present process gruelling chemotherapy, however in September, she revealed that her therapy had come to an finish and he or she would start to ease herself again into royal duties.

She’s attended a handful of occasions since, together with two engagements in a row on Remembrance Weekend and the Qatari State go to earlier this week.

Nonetheless, the carol service marks her most vital return so far, because the highlight was firmly on her and the occasion she has so fastidiously deliberate over a number of months.

Kate arrived forward of the service carrying a festive purple coat by Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen. She was later joined her husband and their three youngsters, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlote, 9, and Prince Louis, six as they arrived on the Abbey.

The brothers wore matching festive ties whereas Charlotte wore a purple coat.

Kate mentioned that finally yr’s carol service she “didn’t know” what 2024 had in retailer for her as she arrived to host her fourth annual occasion at Westminster Abbey.

An hour earlier than the service started, Kate arrived alone to greet performers within the Chapter Home of the abbey earlier than strolling round to greet different company.

When singer Paloma Religion expressed sympathy for the princess, who this yr underwent chemotherapy, Kate, 42, replied: “I didn’t know this time final yr it was going to be the yr I’ve simply had.”

The princess, who married Prince William in 2011 and attended each the late Queen’s funeral in 2022 and the King’s Coronation final Could on the abbey mentioned that the constructing held “so many reminiscences” for her.

Whereas seeming to speak in regards to the soloists from the Royal Ballet who carried out in the course of the service, Kate mentioned that she had enlisted Prince Louis, six, to maintain it a shock for her daughter Princess Charlotte, 9.

Chatting with Paloma Religion, Kate mentioned she requested Louis “Can you retain a secret in any other case it received’t be a shock for Charlotte, who loves her ballet dancing.”

She mentioned that Louis agreed. “He has stored the key for, what, practically two weeks now.”

“Very difficult,” mentioned Religion.

“For a six-year-old,” replied Kate. “After which this morning he mentioned “Mummy, please can I inform her – I’m bursting. I did drop off and he actually wished to inform her. I believe – hopefully – he’s stored it.”

Princess Charlotte’s face lit up when the ballet dancers carried out proper in entrance of her, suggesting her youthful brother had been good to his phrase.

Greeting varied company as she walked by means of the abbey, she stopped on the nave to greet Chris Hoy and his household.

The Olympic biking champion who has terminal most cancers instructed her he had by no means been to Westminster Abbey earlier than.

Shaking arms with Hoy’s younger son Callum and daughter Chloe, Kate commented on Chloe’s sparkly costume, saying: “I used to be going to put on sparkles too!”

Kate then walked again to the entrance of the abbey to greet her husband and their youngsters.

“Hello,” mentioned William.

The household then went to have a look at the “kindness tree” the place company had been invited to jot down the title of somebody who had helped them this yr on purple card to brighten the tree.

Amongst different company in attendance was Kate’s sister Pippa, who walked in with Girl Gabriella Windsor. Girl Gabriella spoke out on the inquest of her late husband Thomas Kingston this week, who died from a shotgun wound to the pinnacle in February.

An announcement by Girl Gabriella, 43, was learn out at Gloucestershire Coroner’s Court docket about how individuals needs to be warned in regards to the results of medicines used to deal with psychological well being situations or else extra individuals may die.

Different members of the prolonged Royal Household included Zara Tindall and her husband Mike, Princess Beatrice and her husband and stepson Christopher “Wolfie” Mapelli, eight.

1,600 company stuffed the pews, they usually have been invited to thank them for supporting others, both on a private stage with family and friends or by means of their work or volunteering.

Amongst them was nine-year-old Shyla Brown from Cambridgeshire, who has raised over £2,000 waking marathons, operating bake gross sales and biking 100 miles round Wisbeck.

She is elevating cash for her finest good friend Harrison, and his brother, who each undergo the degenerative Batten Illness – a life-long situation affecting sight, reminiscence and bodily means.

Olivia Bowditch, 18, was additionally invited for her work volunteering with the charity ‘From me to you’, which sends nameless letters to most cancers sufferers to make them really feel beloved and supported.

She has been a volunteer for various years and despatched a letter to the Princess, sharing her help and telling her in regards to the charity and her volunteer work.

Kate additionally invited Diven Halai, who grew to become the primary man to run the London Marathon with an oxygen machine in 2022, elevating £20,000 for Bronchial asthma + Lung UK and paralympic swimmer Ellie Challis, who misplaced her decrease limbs and arms by means of meningitis at simply 16 months.

Households affected by the Southport knife assault, who Kate and William met in October, have been amongst these invited.

Lindsey Burrows, the widow of MND campaigner Rob Burrow, was amongst these lighting candles.

The household of Liz Hatton, the 17-year-old aspiring photographer who died final month from a uncommon type of most cancers, have been additionally invited to the Abbey.

The prince and princess paid tribute to the “courageous” teenager, having met Liz and her household at Windsor Fort in October.

Festive music by younger performers, together with a 25-piece metal pan band, greeted company as they arrived and the order of service and letter from the Princess was fastidiously positioned on their seats.

The order of service featured an illustration by Charlie Mackesy, which learn: “How did I assist? You have been by my aspect, which was every part” – an additional reinforcement of the service’s message of supporting these in want.

In her private letter, the primary she has written to company since she launched the festive custom in 2021, the princess discusses the significance of compassion and says: “We should all shine for one another.

“As a result of in occasions of pleasure and disappointment, we’re all one another’s mild.”

Visitors have been inspired to depart a message to somebody who had supported them all through their life on a particular ‘Kindness Tree’ outdoors the Abbey.

The princess and her household took seats on the entrance of the church, seated beside a dozen members of the Royal Household.

Kate’s dad and mom and siblings, who’ve been an important supply of consolation by means of her most cancers ordeal, sat just a few seats behind.

Clutching candles, company then stood for the primary carol, which opened with the Westminster Abbey choir earlier than the congregation joined in.

The hour-long live performance featured well-known performers, together with Richard E. Grant, Paloma Religion, Olivia Dean, and Gregory Porter, in addition to a efficiency by two soloists from The Royal Ballet.

They carried out whereas the choir sang The Colors of Christmas by John Rutter.

Actress Michelle Dockery, well-known for her position in Downton Abbey, gave the primary studying – her personal private reflections on empathy and kindness.

William stood later to learn the primary Lesson, Isaiah 9:2, which was just like his spouse’s Christmas message.

“The individuals who walked in darkness have seen an important mild; those that lived in a land of deep darkness – on them mild has shined,” he mentioned.

One significantly poignant second got here when the intergenerational choir Sankofa Songsters led one of many hymns.

The choir, from Belong Care Village in Chester, is a gorgeous mixture of aged residents, a few of whom have dementia, younger youngsters and members of the local people.

The service, carried out by the Dean of Westminster, additionally featured two movies: Nature at Christmas and The Pleasure of Togetherness.

Kate’s carol service, which is supported by The Royal Basis, shall be broadcast as a part of a particular programme on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve

As well as, 15 Collectively At Christmas neighborhood carol companies have been held throughout the UK final night time, together with on the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro and Blackpool Tower Circus.