But the stars of the show were Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis, who arrived with their father, Prince William, and were met outside by their mother, the Princess of Wales.
This year’s concert, which will be broadcast as part of a special Christmas Eve programme on ITV1 and ITVX, was extra special as Kate Middleton paid tribute to the late Duchess of Kent, who died this year. Before guests entered the Abbey, they enjoyed music by young performers from Future Talent; a charity co-founded by the late Duchess of Kent to support musically-gifted children from low-income backgrounds.
Mike Tindall held an umbrella for his wife as they left Westminster Abbey in the rain
Chris Jackson/Getty Images
Together at Christmas brought people together to celebrate love in all its forms, whether it’s love within families, through friendships, across communities, or even through powerful moments of connection with strangers. ‘In a world that can often feel fragmented and disconnected, love is the force that reconnects us all – spanning generations, communities, cultures, and faiths,’ Kensington Palace explained in a statement announcing the concert. ‘As we approach the Christmas season, we are reminded of the power of togetherness. The evening will highlight the transformative power of investing in one another with compassion, presence, and joy.’
As always, some of music’s biggest names gathered alongside the royal family to celebrate Kate’s carol concert, alongside celebrities including Hannah Waddingham, Dan Smith and Chiwetel Ejiofor.