The royals get ready for Christmas
A scarlet-clad Kate gets us all into the festive spirit
In a blaze of red, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge got us all into the festive spirit this week, at her special Together at Christmas carol concert.
The duchess, looking stylish in her red Catherine Walker coat dress, hosted the special carol concert in Westminster Abbey on Wednesday, which airs on ITV on Christmas Eve.
Kate and William said they were “reflecting on the extraordinary challenges we have faced in recent times and celebrating the acts of kindness that we have witnessed across the nation as communities pulled together to help each other and protect those in need.” The duo hosted 1,200 guests, made up of “lockdown heros” like a man who dressed as Spiderman to entertain children from outside their windows. The couple arrived at Westminster Abbey to be greeted by a choir singing carols and two reindeer.
Catherine said the pandemic had posed “countless and previously unimaginable challenges”, but she also saw “how communities have come together to support those most in need. And through our separation from others, we have been reminded just how powerful human connection is to us all.”
She said she and William had been “fortunate to meet and spend time with phenomenal people across the country who day-in day-out support individuals and families” and were “truly inspired by countless people who have brought their communities together through simple acts of love and kindness”. The concert was a way to say thank you and we think it a really lovely idea - and hopefully new tradition.
They were joined by Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Catherine’s family.
The Cambridges also released their Christmas card this week, with a beautiful shot of the family, taken in Jordan.
The Queen is cleared to party
In other good news, the Queen has been given the go-ahead by doctors to host her annual family Christmas party, according to reports.
The 95-year-old monarch, who has been on light duties recently, because of ongoing health issues, has been cleared for her traditional get-together, which will this year be held in Windsor Castle, where she has been residing through the pandemic. In previous years it was held in Buckingham Palace. It is also thought she will deliver her Christmas speech from Windsor. The Queen is also expected to travel to Sandringham, as usual, for the Christmas period.
Camilla radios in
One of our favourite moments this week was Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall hosting a 70th birthday party for The Archers.
The duchess hosted a party for the long-running radio show on Tuesday and admitted she was an Archers addict. She said she suffered “severe withdrawal symptoms” from the Radio 4 drama when lockdown disrupted the recording.
The world’s longest-running drama began in 1951, originally to educate farmers on modern methods. Camilla watched a scene being recorded at Clarence House and said, “Like many other Archers addicts, I have been known to become quite ratty if disturbed between 7pm and 7:15pm - and, like thousands of others, had severe withdrawal symptoms when you all but disappeared during lockdown.”
Charles and Camilla also released their Christmas card - a fun photo of the pair struggling with masks, taken in Ascot in June.
Whip up a Windsor wreath
Fun fact: Christmas trees were introduced to Britain in the 18th century by Queen Charlotte. If you are feeling crafty this Christmas, the Royal Household florists have shared their tips for creating a regal wreath. Posting a how-to video on The Royal Family’s Instagram site, you’ll need the following. Good luck!
⭕ A copper wreath ring
🌿 Moss
✂️ Scissors
〰️ Reel wire
〰️Long, thick, green florist wires
🌿 Foliage (pine, holly, ivy)
🍊Dried fruit slice
🔸Cinnamon sticks
🌲 Dried pine cones and lotus heads
🎀 Christmas ribbon
➰ String for hanging
Feel like a royal pudding
There’s still time to upgrade your Christmas dinner, with a Buckingham Palace Christmas pudding. We don’t recommend following the Windsor tradition of weighing yourself pre and post Christmas dinner, to see how much you’ve packed away, but we do recommend tucking in to this festive treat. Priced £9.95, buy it here.