It’s been a tough year for Kate Middleton and her family but she is ending 2024 with a message of hope and inspiration.
The Princess of Wales recorded a special message as part of the annual The Royal Carols: Together At Christmas service, which she hosted earlier this month and will be televised in the U.K. on Christmas Eve.
“Welcome to our Together at Christmas carol service here at Westminster Abbey,” Middleton says in the voiceover.
“Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year, it is a time for presents, tinsel and mince pies, but it’s also a time to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all.”
She continued: “It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness, so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about.”
Kate went on to explain how the story of Christmas “encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others.”
She added: “It also reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences.”
Kate spent most of 2024 behind closed doors after her cancer diagnosis was revealed, as she sought treatment and prioritized her recovery.
“Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear,” she continued in the message.
“The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others,” she said. “Love that listens with empathy, love that is kind and understanding, love that is forgiving and love that brings joy and hope. It is love which is the greatest gift we can receive, not just at Christmas but every day of our lives.”
Kate was joined at the Dec. 6 service by her husband Prince William and their children Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis.
Her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, also attended, as did her sister Pippa, their brother James and his wife Alizée Thevenet.
Before she wished everyone a very Merry Christmas, she brought it back to the carol service, calling it a “heartfelt celebration of every one of you” and serves as a reminder that we should all shine for each other.
“Because in times of joy and sadness, we are all each other’s light.”
It was the fourth time Middleton hosted the service, held at London’s Westminster Abbey.
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“Doing what I can to stay cancer free is now my focus,” she continued. “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.”