Princess Beatrice and Princess Eugenie did not attend this year’s carol service at Westminster Abbey despite having previously attended the Princess of Wales’s service on several occasions.
Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie have skipped the Princess of Wales’ annual Christmas Carol Concert as the fallout of the scandal surrouding their disgraced father Andrew continues. The daughters of Andrew and Fergie have been regular attendees at Kate’s Christmas Carol service over the years – with Beatrice attending last year with husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and Eugenie enjoying the service in 2023 with her husband Jack Brooksbank.
Tonight, a whole host of royals supported Kate at her big event, including her husband Prince William, and their three children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis. But Beatrice and Eugenie and their families were noticeably absent. It is reported that they were invited to the event and were touched with their invitations, however, family committments meant both were unable to attend.
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Taking to Instagram, Eugenie said on her stories: ‘Wish Bea and I could have been celebrating tonight with our family. Wishing @princeandprincessofwales such a special evening at her incredible carol service. What an amazing message of love and hope.'”
Their father, Andrew was stripped of his titles several weeks ago following revelations about his association with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein andis being forced out of his Royal Lodge home. And even though Beatrice and Eugenie’s mother has also lost her Duchess of York title, the two princesses have been unaffected by any changes. It has been reported that the King is close to his nieces and wants to keep them in the royal fold.
The Duchess of Edinburgh, Mike and Zara Tindall, as well as other members of the royal family, including Lord Frederick Windsor and his wife Sophie Winkleman, were also present at the service.
The 1, 6000 guests who have attended the service, which celebrates love in all its forms, are included in the total, which has totaled 1, 6000. The princess praised community leaders who were invited to the service in a letter that will be made available to all guests, telling them that they are “making an extraordinary difference to the lives of others.”
She also praises the virtues of Christmas, which reminds us of how woven our lives are together, and adds that, despite having “at times” a fragmented or uncertain “the festive season” invites us to remember the power of reaching out to one another.
A live illustrator is sketching real-time images of the atmosphere inside the Abbey for the first time at the concert.
Plantersman and horticulturist Jamie Butterworth have created a festive, natural setting outside of the Abbey, acknowledging the value of nature as a source of connection in our lives. In his designs, a large number of stunning British woodland trees are woven with fruits, berries, and Christmas trees in their natural winter state.
After the service, Form Plants in Weybridge returns the living plants and trees there. Additionally, Simon Lycett, a florist and The Royal Horticultural Society, have made donations for Westminster Abbey wreath displays.
The wreaths were created in collaboration with RHS Ambassadors, schoolchildren, including Dame Mary Berry and Arit Anderson, as well as RHS friends, Angelica Bell and Tom Allen, the comedian from the past.
Hobbycraft also supports a “Connection Tree,” in which guests can add their own named loop to a paper chain adorning the tree, which serves as a reminder of the value of genuine connection.
Eight young performers from the Abbey’s Future Talent, a charity co-founded by the Late Duchess of Kent, performed music for guests between the ages of 13 and 18, who were performing for the Abbey’s musically gifted children from low-income families.
The event will be aired on ITV1 and ITVX’s special Christmas program Royal Carols: Together At Christmas, which will return on December 1st.
The broadcast, co-produced by BBC Studios Events and The Royal Foundation, will feature two special films which bring to life the stories of people and organisations who have shown love, joy and compassion to others in their times of need.
