Kate Middleton breaks silence on her toughest year yet as she joins William, their children and other royals at carol concert

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

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 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. Kate and Prince William found their lives turned upside down.
Now, having completed her treatment, the royal is beginning to return to public duties and has held her fourth ‘Together At Christmas’ carol service at historic Westminster Abbey, which will be televised by ITV on Christmas Eve.

Kate was joined by her husband the Prince of Wales and their three children, Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six, 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.

She was also accompanied by the wider Middleton family, from supportive mother Carole to sister Pippa, 41, and brother James, 37.

The princess, who has been ‘hands on’ over every aspect of the service and held regular planning meetings at Windsor, arrived on her own at 4pm to view the abbey and oversee last minute arrangements 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.

She went on: ‘The unplanned… but I think lots of people this year have had such challenging times and many who are here today…’