Sporting a smart military uniform, light gingery beard and jovial demeanour, one of the guests spotted arriving at Westminster Abbey for the Princess of Wales’ carol concert – airing tonight on ITV – looks very familiar.
Eagled-eyed viewers tuning into the service might be forgiven for thinking Prince William and Prince Harry had embarked on a festive truce such is the likeness between the Duke of Sussex and a mystery airman attending Kate’s festive occasion.
Prince Harry’s cheerful doppelganger appeared in the trailer for the ‘Together At Christmas’ concert, which first aired last week ahead of the ITV broadcast on Christmas Eve.
Dressed in a RAF ceremonial uniform of the British Army, the Duke’s double appears 35 seconds into the footage looking uncannily like Prince Harry.
The real Prince Harry is spending a ‘quiet’ Christmas thousands of miles away at his home in California with Meghan Markle and the couple’s two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
The resemblance to King Charles’s youngest son, 40, who is still largely estranged from his family, isn’t just facial, the military man carries the same stature and build as Harry.
The appearance of the look-alike draws attention to the absence of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex from Kate’s concert and from the royals’ Christmas celebrations more broadly – as another year passes with family relations still tense.
Families gathered on Christmas Eve are in for a regal treat when The Princess of Wales’ carol concert airs this evening to the nation.
It is the fourth time Kate Middleton has held the annual festive concert at Westminster Abbey – but this year’s is particularly poignant as the 42-year-old royal continues her recovery from cancer; Prince William has described 2024 as ‘probably the hardest year of my life’.
Filmed earlier this month on December 6th, Royal Carols: Together At Christmas will air at 7:30pm on Christmas Eve on ITV1 and ITVX.
Royal fans will see the princess joined by William, 42, and the couple’s three children Prince George, 11, Princess Charlotte, nine, and Prince Louis, six.
A host of royal family members will be spotted by eagle-eyed viewers when the concert airs, as many of the Windsors turned out to support the Princess of Wales.
The entire Middleton family too, who have been Kate’s dedicated support network throughout her recent illness, was also out in force.
The King and Queen, however, were not amongst the guests, with the filming coinciding with Camilla’s ongoing recovery from a viral chest infection.
The concert earlier in the yuletide season marked one of the few times the mother-of-three has made a public appearance this year, after undergoing a course of preventative chemotherapy in the first half of the year.
Kate has been described as being ‘hands on’ over every aspect of the service, including holding regular planning meetings at Windsor ahead of filming.
On the day the service was filmed, the Princess arrived on her own at 4pm to view the abbey and oversee last minute arrangements.
However, the supportive royals have also helped Kate bring her ideas together, with everyone from King Charles, who donated Christmas trees, and Prince Louis, who penned a sweet note, helping to make the service a seasonal success.
Viewers will see the Princess of Wales looking elegant in an Alexander McQueen red coat, featuring a statement black bow, which she teamed with black Ralph Lauren boots for the festive occasion.
The theme of this year’s ‘Together at Christmas’ concert is love and empathy, which is perhaps suitable considering the difficult year the Princess has had.
A voice over featuring a message from Kate will be played at the start of the ‘Together at Christmas’ carol concert at Westminster Abbey.
The broadcast of Kate’s service will open with a special festive message from the royal, in which she talks about the importance of love and empathy.
The Princess of Wales has called for people to ‘slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all’ and turn to ‘love, not fear’.
Her heartfelt message – which was given in a letter to every guest at the concert on December 6, and 15 regional community services and will be a voice over played at the start of the concert – was also shared in a clip from the upcoming broadcast.
Kate says: ‘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.
‘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.
‘The Christmas story encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others. 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. Above all else, it encourages us to turn to love, not fear.’
Kate continues: ‘The love that we show ourselves and the love we show others. 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.’
After this, the broadcast of her annual festive gathering will be narrated by Scottish actress Kelly Macdonald and ‘feature three special community films which bring to life the stories of people and organisations who have inspired, counselled and comforted others in their times of need’.
Kensington Palace said: ‘In each of the films, the groups are seen receiving letters from the princess inviting them to attend – and in the case of the Sankofa Songsters sing at – the service at Westminster Abbey.’
The films will showcase the Worcestershire Gingerbread Group, Go Beyond and intergenerational choir the Sankofa Songsters.
The first – focusing on the Worcestershire Gingerbread Group – will highlight a single mother based in Worcestershire, who set up the ground to tackle loneliness.
The film showcasing Go Beyond will feature six young carers aged between eight and 13, who ‘go above and beyond every day to show empathy and support to their families’.
And the last will detail an intergenerational choir based in Belong Chester. This not-for-profit care village brings together care home residents and their young friends from The Nursery in Belong, operated by national charity Ready Generations.
Kensington Palace says the choir has ‘enhanced the lives of everyone, strengthening relationships between all ages by spreading kindness and love, with members aged from two to 100.’
