Kate Middleton makes emotional admission about cancer battle at moving Christmas concert

The Princess of Wales has said that at last year’s carol service she “didn’t know” what 2024 had in store for her as she arrived to host her fourth annual event at Westminster Abbey.

Kate was joined by her husband and their three children to host her Together At Christmas carol service. It is the first time the Wales family have been seen together in public since their appearance at Trooping the Colour, the King’s birthday parade, in June. An hour before the service began, Kate arrived alone to greet performers in the Chapter House of the abbey before walking around to greet other guests. When singer Paloma Faith expressed sympathy for the princess, who this year underwent chemotherapy, Kate, 42, replied: “I didn’t know this time last year it was going to be the year I’ve just had.”

The princess, who married Prince William in 2011 and attended the late Queen’s funeral in 2022 at the abbey, said that the building held “so many memories” for her. While seeming to talk about the soloists from the Royal Ballet who performed during the service, Kate said that she had enlisted Prince Louis, six, to keep it a surprise for her daughter Princess Charlotte, nine.

Speaking to Paloma Faith, Kate said she asked Louis “Can you keep a secret otherwise it won’t be a surprise for Charlotte, who loves her ballet dancing”. She said that Louis agreed. “He has kept the secret for, what, nearly two weeks now.” “Very challenging,” said Faith. “For a six-year-old,” replied Kate. “And then this morning he said “Mummy, please can I tell her – I’m bursting. I did drop off and he really wanted to tell her. I think – hopefully – he’s kept it.” Charlotte later looked thrilled as she saw the ballet dancers, suggesting her younger brother had been good to his word.

Kate then walked to the north transept and knelt down to speak to scouts from 44th Bury (Robot) scout group from Bury, Manchester. Greeting various guests as she walked through the abbey, she stopped at the nave to greet Chris Hoy and his family. The Olympic cycling champion who has terminal cancer told her he had never been to Westminster Abbey before.

Shaking hands with Hoy’s young son Callum and daughter Chloe, Kate, who was dressed in a red coat with black bow by Sarah Burton coat for Alexander McQueen, commented on Chloe’s sparkly dress, saying: “I was going to wear sparkles too!” By the nave, Kate stopped to speak to 100-year-old D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan who was attending the service as an ambassador for the Royal British Legion.