Chris Jackson/AFP/Getty Images |
There’s been more good news this week after Kensington Palace confirmed that the Princess of Wales’ annual Christmas carol service will go ahead on December 6, a welcome sign of her continued improvement in health following her cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
It will be the princess’ fourth “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey, with the theme of this year’s event focusing on “how much we need each other, especially in the most difficult times of our lives,” according to the palace.
The festive service, which Kate started in 2021, is the latest in a growing number of royal engagements since her diagnosis, from balcony moments to a Wimbledon appearance that earned her a standing ovation from the Centre Court crowd.
In September, the 42-year-old royal announced her plan for a phased return to royal duties following the completion of her chemotherapy treatment and “a renewed sense of hope and appreciation of life.”
“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus,” she said at the time. “Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”
She made her first public appearance post-treatment last month in Southport, northwest England, alongside her husband, Prince William, where the couple met the bereaved families of three children killed in a knife attack in July.
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Chris Jackson/Getty Images |
The recent carol concert announcement wasn’t entirely unexpected. In addition to sharing that she would undertake engagements when she felt well enough, Kate has held a number of meetings at Windsor Castle. These were documented in the Court Circular, which officially records events carried out by the family. One of these meetings turned out to be related to her annual carol service.
In a continued positive sign, the Princess of Wales joined the Windsors for Remembrance events last weekend, marking the first time she has carried out engagements on two consecutive days since the start of the year.
On Sunday, she looked on as King Charles, Prince William and other royals left floral tributes on the war memorial in Whitehall, London. The evening before, she looked well as she joined the royal clan for the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance.
Many royal-watchers will be hoping that the newly announced carol service will mark the end of a turbulent year, which Kate herself has described as “incredibly tough for us as a family.” But confirmation that she’ll pick up hosting duties once more hints that things may be back on track and of a return to some form of normality.
Read more about Kate's concert here. |
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Charles hits a food festival for his birthday. |
King Charles III marked his 76th birthday on Thursday by opening two new food distribution hubs - one in person and the other virtually. The monarch’s birthday also marked one year since he launched his Coronation Food Project, an initiative to tackle both food poverty and waste. In addition to investing in a network of hubs, the program is adding capacity to warehouses, boosting cold storage facilities and funding transport and drivers to bolster distribution capacity. The facility the King visited in southeast London held a “surplus food festival” where meals were made using food that might otherwise have gone to waste. During the visit, the King toured the new facility and met beneficiaries and representatives of food banks, schools and community groups. Read more here.
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Chris Jackson/Getty Images |
Camilla returns to work but skips some engagements. |
Queen Camilla was back at work this week after being forced to rest at home with a chest infection. On Tuesday, she attended a reception for the Booker Prize at Buckingham Palace. While she is on the mend, small adjustments have been made to her schedule to keep it light and prioritize her recovery, CNN understands. In reality, that meant a few of her engagements were shortened. She did pop along to a reception for the Film and TV Charity, hosted at the palace on Wednesday afternoon, but she skipped the Royal Film Performance in the evening (more on that later). As was the case last week, we understand that there have been no issues of concern about her health and that the 77-year-old Queen’s reduced diary was a pragmatic compromise made on doctors’ advice, to minimize the chance of a setback to her recovery.
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Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP/Getty Images |
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The Sussexes' message about online safety.
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Prince Harry and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex have warned that “we are at a crossroads” when it comes to protecting children online. In their video message to the inaugural Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children, held in Colombia this month, the couple stressed it was a “crucial time” to examine how the world protects children from violence in a digital age. They told those assembled they hoped for a “clear-eyed approach” to address the “new reality our youth are facing.” Earlier in the year, Harry and Meghan launched The Archewell Foundation Parents’ Network, a support network for families dealing with online harm. Watch their full address here.
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Chris Jackson//Pool/Reuters |
King Charles III, wearing military dress, leads the family and the nation in honoring fallen servicemen and women at the Cenotaph in Whitehall, central London on Sunday during the annual Remembrance Day service. Attached to the monarch’s wreath is a handwritten note that reads: “In grateful remembrance of your service and sacrifice.”
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Eddie Mulholland/WPA Pool/Getty Images |
The highly anticipated Gladiator sequel got a very special premiere on Wednesday when King Charles attended the movie’s opening in recognition of the Film and TV Charity. Charles is patron of the organization, which is celebrating its centenary this year. The charity supports all those who work in the UK’s film, TV and cinema industries. At the Royal Film Performance, Charles was introduced to “Gladiator II” director Ridley Scott, as well as cast members Paul Mescal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen and Pedro Pascal. Members of the royal family have been attending Royal Film Performances for nearly 80 years. The first was back in 1946, when then-King George VI attended the premiere of Powell and Pressburger’s now-classic “A Matter of Life and Death” at Leicester Square’s Empire Cinema, alongside his wife, Queen Elizabeth, and daughters Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret. The most recent Royal Film Performance was hosted in 2022, when William and Kate hit the red carpet for “Top Gun: Maverick.”
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"Let today be a reminder that the true measure of gratitude is not in words alone, but in our actions and our ongoing efforts to build a world worthy of the sacrifices that those before us have made - and to protect it for generations to come."
– Prince Harry
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The Duke of Sussex shared a message to mark Veterans Day in the United States and Remembrance Day in the UK. In his note, Harry spoke of his “lifelong admiration and appreciation for the service and sacrifice you and your families have made - both in times of conflict and peace.” |
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CNN's Kathy Rose O'Brien contributed to this newsletter. |
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