The Princess of Wales is hosting her fifth Together at Christmas service at Westminster Abbey tonight.

The Princess of Wales beamed as she arrived at Westminster Abbey to  host her annual Christmas carol service. The evening promises to be a spectacular, candle-lit, festive event with special performances from Katie Melua, Fisherman’s Friends and Griff.

Actors Hannah Waddingham, Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor are set to give readings while carols will be sung by the Westminster Abbey choir, alongside musical performances. This year, the future Queen has decided to honour Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 92, as young performers from Future Talent, a charity co-founded by Katharine, are playing music outside the Abbey.

Prince William was also in attendance, and was snapped alongside the couple’s three children: Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, much to the delight of royal fans.

Princess Kate beamed with delight as she entered Westminster Abbey (Image: PA)

Princess Kate looked radiant as she stepped out in festive green (Image: Getty)

This year, the future Queen has decided to honour Katharine, Duchess of Kent, who passed away earlier this year at the age of 92, as young performers from Future Talent, a charity co-founded by Katharine, are playing music outside the Abbey.

Princess Catherine stepped out in a classic deep-green Catherine Walker coat, a double-breasted design. The rich jewel-toned shade felt perfectly seasonal and impeccably polished, a timeless winter statement that remains one of her most elegant outerwear staples.

Its reappearance also carried a subtle sentimental nod to the late Queen Elizabeth II, who famously championed bold colour and was last seen beside Catherine back in 2020, when she wore this very coat and fur collar attached.

The Princess of Wales was joined by her three children (Image: Getty)

Princess Kate was among the first to arrive at Westminster Abbey (Image: PA)

The Prince of Wales is expected to arrive with the couple’s three children, Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, much to the delight of royal fans

As guests arrived on Friday afternoon, they were greeted by an array of British woodland trees creating a natural, festive environment. And inside there was a magical atmosphere with gorgeously decorated wreaths, Christmas trees and a nativity scene inside the nave.

The Together at Christmas service is a mix of traditional carols, music and readings and will air on ITV1 on Christmas Eve. Catherine’s carol service is now in its fifth year and has become one of the most important nights of the year for the future Queen.

She spends months planning the event with her team, aiming to bring people together for a heartwarming festive celebration at the start of the Christmas period. The medieval Abbey is the perfect backdrop for the occasion, which was beautifully decorated, with dozens of Christmas trees placed among the ancient tombs, monuments and pews.

Princess Catherine stood beside Prince Louis during the Carol Concert (Image: Getty)

Beneath Catherine’s coat, her festive tartan skirt peeked through. The design was a perfectly seasonal choice that added a warm burst of colour to her winter ensemble.

She completed the look with Robinson Pelham’s Tsar Star white-gold and diamond studs and drops, estimated to be worth over £10,000. The sparkling earrings brought a touch of refined glamour to her otherwise classic, understated outfit.

Sleek black accessories and her signature glossy waves completed a look that balanced warmth, tradition and thoughtful symbolism.

The Princess of Wales was snapped in an emerald look as she arrived at Westminster Abbey (Image: Getty)

Many in the congregation have been invited to thank them for their work in helping others in their communities, such as school girl Madison Reed.

Last year, aged 10, she raised more than £1,360 for the Archie Foundation by Highland dancing in 26 locations across Scotland, each beginning with a different letter of the alphabet. She raised the funds for the charity, which supports sick children receiving medical care in north-east Scotland, along with their families.

Celebrity chef Dame Mary Berry, who has created a Christmas wreath on display in the Abbey, has also been invited alongside leading sportswomen.

This includes members of England women’s rugby World Cup winning squad – Rosie Galligan, Helena Rowland, Jess Breach and Marlie Packer, a number of the Wales women’s rugby team, such as captain Alex Callender.

Former England rugby captain Lewis Moody, who recently announced he has motor neurone disease, will be joined by his wife, Annie.

Holocaust survivor Steven Frank, who was photographed by Catherine in 2020 to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the end of the Holocaust, was also invited to attend.

Princess Kate beamed in a festive look (Image: Getty)

The theme of the service was the “power of love and togetherness”, with Catherine keen to recognise people across the country who contribute to society.

In a letter to guests, the princess sent a Christmas message about the importance of small acts of kindness in times that can seem “fragments or uncertain”.

She wrote: “This carol service offers a moment of collective togetherness, a chance to celebrate the spirit of community and service, and to honour the visible and invisible bonds that unite us all.

“The time, care and compassion you give, often quietly and unspoken, and without any expectation or recognition, make an extraordinary difference to the lives of others.”

Catherine’s carol service is now in its fifth year and has become one of the most important nights of the year for the future Queen.

She spends months planning the event with her team, aiming to bring people together for a heartwarming festive celebration at the start of the Christmas period.

The medieval Abbey is the perfect backdrop for the occasion, which was beautifully decorated, with dozens of Christmas trees placed among the ancient tombs, monuments and pews.

Across the UK, 15 community carol services on the same theme of love and togetherness will also take place, including in a community farm in Gwent and an arts centre in Newbury.