Princess of Wales releases plea for 'love, not hate' in Christmas letter ahead of carol service

Theresa Braine, New York Daily News on Dec 2, 2024

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Kate Middleton, Princess of Wales, issued a poignant plea to embrace “love, not fear” in a letter to guests of an upcoming carol concert she’s hosting on Friday, noting “love unites and strengthens us all.”

The letter was penned in the wake of her own cancer treatment, reflecting “on the importance of love, empathy and how much we need one another in the most difficult times,” she and husband Prince William announced in an Instagram post.

“Christmas is one of my favorite times of the year,” Middleton wrote in the letter, obtained by Sky News. “It is a time for celebration and joy, but it also gives us the opportunity to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all.”

The princess emphasized the Christmas story “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. 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,” she wrote.

The missive is slated to be given to each honoree of her Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey and 15 Community Carol Services across the country in thanks for their service to others. The princess has hosted the annual carol service since 2021, bringing together those “who have shown kindness towards others in their communities,” according to a statement from Westminster Abbey, where the event will be held.

Royal family members “and recognizable faces who in their own ways have shown how love can help others thrive” will be among the 1,600 in the congregation. The service will combine “traditional and modern elements” and include carol performances by the renowned Abbey Choir, as well as performances by Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter, according to Westminster Abbey.

Among the invited guests will be family members and survivors of the stabbing attack on a children’s Taylor Swift-themed yoga and dance class July 29 in Southport, England. Three girls were killed and several others wounded.

On Tuesday, Middleton will join Prince William to greet the Emir of Qatar and his wife on their arrival for a two-day state visit, showing her further return to public royal duties after a cancer diagnosis and several months of chemotherapy.

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