Prince Louis keeps huge secret from Princess Charlotte about mum Kate's carol concert

Speaking before hosting her annual carol service from Westminster Abbey, the Princess of Wales revealed she let Prince Louis in on a secret about the concert and he tried his best to keep it from big sister Princess Charlotte

The Princess of Wales revealed she enlisted Prince Louis to keep a huge secret from Princess Charlotte ahead of her Christmas carol concert.

It is the fourth time the princess has held her event at Westminster Abbey to celebrate the positive qualities found in many and to bring festive cheer to the capital and associated events around the country. Kate's three children and husband Prince William joined her for the concert as well as celebrity performers including Richard E Grant, Paloma Faith and Gregory Porter, with Sir Chris Hoy giving a reading for the 1,600 guests who have supported others, whether friends or family, helped individuals through their work or volunteered.

While seeming to talk about the soloists from the Royal Ballet who performed during the service, Kate said that she had asked Louis, six, to keep it a surprise for her daughter Charlotte, nine. Speaking to Paloma Faith, Kate said she asked Louis "Can you keep a secret otherwise it won’t be a surprise for Charlotte, who loves her ballet dancing". She said that Louis agreed. "He has kept the secret for, what, nearly two weeks now." "Very challenging," said Faith.

"For a six-year-old," replied Kate. "And then this morning he said “Mummy, please can I tell her - I’m bursting. I did drop off and he really wanted to tell her. I think - hopefully - he’s kept it." Charlotte later looked thrilled as she saw the ballet dancers, suggesting her younger brother had been good to his word.

It was the first time the Wales family have been seen together in public since their appearance at Trooping the Colour, the King’s birthday parade, in June. An hour before the service began, Kate arrived alone to greet performers in the Chapter House of the abbey before walking around to greet other guests.

When singer Paloma Faith expressed sympathy for the princess, who this year underwent chemotherapy, Kate, 42, replied: "I didn’t know this time last year it was going to be the year I’ve just had."

The princess, who married Prince William in 2011 and attended the late Queen’s funeral in 2022 at the abbey, said that the building held "so many memories" for her. Kate then walked to the north transept and knelt down to speak to scouts from 44th Bury (Robot) scout group from Bury, Manchester.

Greeting various guests as she walked through the abbey, she stopped at the nave to greet Chris Hoy and his family. The Olympic cycling champion who has terminal cancer told her he had never been to Westminster Abbey before.

Shaking hands with Hoy’s young son Callum and daughter Chloe, Kate, who was dressed in a red coat with a black bow by Sarah Burton coat for Alexander McQueen, commented on Chloe’s sparkly dress, saying: "I was going to wear sparkles too!" By the nave, Kate stopped to speak to 100-year-old D-Day veteran Bernard Morgan who was attending the service as an ambassador for the Royal British Legion.

Morgan said: "It was truly special to be part of The Princess of Wales ’s Together at Christmas Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. I am very grateful to be invited, and I was honoured to light a candle on behalf of all the amazing volunteers at the Royal British Legion who give up their time to support veterans like me."

William’s cousin Zara Tindall was also among the guests, as were Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and their daughter Lady Gabriella Windsor, making her first appearance at a royal event since a coroner concluded this week that her husband Thomas Kingston had taken his own life following an inquest into his death.

The highlights of the service included Porter performing Do You Hear What I Hear? and Faith singing the classic soul song This Christmas. Actor Richard E Grant recited a passage from Charles Dickens’s classic festive story A Christmas Carol while Downton Abbey star Michelle Dockery read some of her personal reflections.

Carols sung by the congregation included Once in Royal David’s City, O Come All Ye Faithful, Away In A Manger and Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.

The event will be broadcast as part of the programme Royal Carols: Together At Christmas, screened on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve, and it will feature three films about the stories of people and organisations who have inspired, counselled and comforted others in their times of need.