Kate Middleton’s annual “Together at Christmas” carol service included an unexpected mother-daughter moment: a piano duet featuring the Princess of Wales and her 10-year-old daughter, Princess Charlotte.
Kate, 43, hosted her fifth “Together at Christmas” service at Westminster Abbey in London on Dec. 5. Viewers later saw the special performance when the concert aired on the U.K.’s ITV on Thursday, Dec. 24, at 2:25 p.m. ET. In the broadcast, Kate and Charlotte played “Holm Sound” by Erland Cooper together on the piano.
In a clip shared on Instagram, Kate reflected on the season’s meaning: “At its heart, Christmas speaks of love taking full bloom in the simplest, most human ways… Presence. These simple acts of care might seem small, but they contribute to the beautiful tapestry of life to which we all belong.”
Earlier in the day, the Prince and Princess of Wales’ social media accounts teased the duet with a short video. The camera swept across a piano before settling on Kate’s hand — identifiable by her sapphire engagement ring — resting on the keys, then joined by a second hand believed to be Charlotte’s. The clip faded out as “Kensington Palace” appeared on-screen amid ivy graphics.
The post’s caption read, “A special duet… 💕,” with a note encouraging fans to watch: “Watch Royal Carols: Together at Christmas tonight at 7.25pm on @itv and @itvxofficial.”
The service was attended by Prince William, Prince George, 12, and Prince Louis, 7, and the family was photographed outside Westminster Abbey — the same venue where William and Kate married in 2011.
Other members of the royal family among the 1,600-strong congregation included Sophie, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Zara Tindall and her husband, Mike Tindall. Kate was also joined by her parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, and her brother, James Middleton, who attended with his wife, Alizée Thevenet.
For the winter evening, Kate wore a long green coat with fur trim at the neckline paired with black boots, while Charlotte wore a navy dress with a white Peter Pan collar and matching tights.
Kate previously shared that Charlotte has been learning piano. During the Royal Variety Performance in November 2023, she spoke with pianist Lang Lang about her daughter’s practice, according to Hello! magazine. Lang Lang later said that Kate told Charlotte that with plenty of practice, she could one day play like him.
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Kate’s own piano skills first became widely known in 2021 during the inaugural “Together at Christmas” service, when she accompanied Scottish singer-songwriter Tom Walker for a performance of “For Those Who Can’t Be Here.”
She launched “Together at Christmas” as a thank-you to people across the U.K. who supported their communities during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s theme — “love in all its forms” — was announced on Nov. 13. A Kensington Palace statement said the service would celebrate love within families, friendships, communities, and “powerful moments of connection with strangers,” adding that the evening would spotlight “the transformative power of investing in one another with compassion, presence and joy.”
