Prince Louis gripped onto a sweet handwritten note as he arrived at his mother’s carol concert at Westminster Abbey this evening.
As the six-year-old royal walked into the Together at Christmas event alongside his father, Prince William, and his siblings, Prince George, 11, and Princess Charlotte, nine, he held onto a special thank you note.
‘Thank you for granny and grandpa because they have played games with me,’ the special message read.
The young royal, who is known for his cheeky tendencies, shares a close bond with Michael and Carole Middleton.
In a video released by the Prince and Princess of Wales earlier this year where Kate revealed she has finished her course of ‘preventative chemotherapy’, Louis was seen playing card games around a table with Carole and Michael.
The Princess of Wales will preside over her annual Christmas carol concert this evening, with several members of the royal family rooting for Kate after what has been a tumutlous year for her.
Senior members of the Firm, led by the Prince of Wales, will also be joined by the younger generation – including Kate and William’s three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
William, 42, looked dapper as he walked into Westminster Abbey, accompanied by the three young royals.
Both George, 11, and Louis, four, wore matching suits with red ties, while their sister Charlotte, nine, wore a burgundy coat that closely resembled the Alexander McQueen outfit her mother wore.
Ahead of William’s arrival, his cousin Princess Beatrice arrived at the London landmark, accompanied by her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzie and her stepson Christopher Woolf Mapelli Mozzi.
Beatrice, who picked a monochromatic burgundy ensemble, held eight-year-old Wolfie’s hand, as the family walked walked into Westminster Abbey to take their place among the 1,600-person strong congregation.
This time last year Kate, 42, was focusing on her work and children, and looking forward to the festive season with little inclination of what was to come.
Weeks later she underwent major abdominal surgery in hospital, after which doctors broke the news that they had found evidence of cancer and advised her to undergo a gruelling course of preventative chemotherapy.
READ: George, Charlotte And Louis Arrive At Kate’s 2024 Christmas Carol Concert
Kate and her husband Prince William found their lives turned upside down.
Now, having completed her treatment, the royal is beginning to return to public duties and will hold her fourth ‘Together At Christmas’ carol service at historic Westminster Abbey, which will be televised by ITV on Christmas Eve.
Kate put on an elegant display in an Alexander McQueen red coat, featuring a statement black bow, which she teamed with her black Ralph Lauren boots for the occasion.
The entire Middleton family clan, who have been Kate’s dedicated support network throughout, will also be present, as will other members of the Royal Family. The King and Queen, however, are not amongst the guests.
Her father-in-law has, however, donated Christmas trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate the building, which will later be donated to the local community.
Looking typically stylish for the outing, Kate completed her festive ensemble with a red check skirt, her Mulberry Amberley Baroque Pearl Earrings and a £110 Gold Plated bangle by British brand Halcyon Days.
The bangle is thought to have been a birthday present from Prince William in 2020, and features a subtle nod to Princess Diana as it’s called ‘the Salamander Torque Forget-Me-Not & Gold Bangle ‘ – named after the late royal’s favourite flower.
Showcasing her stylish prowess, Kate kept her brunette locks in soft waves and added to her features with a smattering of glamorous makeup.
The 1,600-strong congregation largely consists of members of the public recommended by Lord Lieutenants across the country for their community and charity work as a ‘thank you’ from the princess.
Also among them are members of the Southport community affected by this summer’s tragic stabbing, including children who survived the attack and the families of the three little girls who died.
Travelling from Yorkshire is the family of inspirational Liz Hatton, who was invited to Windsor by the prince and princess in October to help complete a photography ‘bucket list’.
She sadly died last week of a rare form of cancer at the age of just 17, with William and Kate paying a moving public tribute to her strength and dignity.
RAF veteran Bernard Morgan, aged 100, from Crewe, is also present from the Royal British Legion. He landed in Normandy on D-Day in 1944.
Bernard, who still speaks to schools and colleges about his experiences during World War Two, said: ‘It is truly special to be part of The Princess of Wales’s Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey.
English