On Friday evening, Kate Middleton joined a bevy of performers to film her third annual Together at Christmas special, and she brought one special surprise along with her. The princess will sit behind the piano John Lennon used to write “Imagine” in order to play a rendition of Wham’s hit song “Last Christmas.” According to the event’s order of service, the surprise was arranged with the estate of George Michael, who wrote the song and once owned the piano. It adds that King Charles III donated pine trees from Windsor Great Park to decorate Westminster Abbey.
Though the general public won’t get to see what happens inside of the abbey until the program airs on Christmas Eve, the royal family did join for a mini-procession in front of the cameras, putting on a display of royal style, including a new bespoke white suit for the princess herself. According to Express’s Richard Palmer, Kate’s jacket came from Chris Kerr, a London tailor who works in the traditional Savile Row manner. This means the pieces were likely constructed after fittings at the firm’s Soho shop, with an eye towards making a timeless look with high-quality construction, a favored method of the king. She paired it with a white blouse, pumps, and a pair of low-key hanging earrings.
The night began when Kate greeted the performers, who all wore either red or green. Kate was photographed speaking to Adam Lambert in a very seasonally appropriate green suit, and Freya Ridings, who wore a flowing red dress. She also got a chance to greet Roman Kemp, a radio DJ who worked with the princess on her Shaping Up campaign for children’s mental health awareness earlier this year. Later she was joined by Prince William, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, and Prince Louis. Charlotte wore a berry-colored coat that appeared to be the same as she wore last year, and her father wore a coordinating tie.
Last year, the extended family arrived mainly wearing burgundy, which was interpreted as a show of unity after the Prince Harry and Meghan Markle docuseries Harry & Meghan had aired on the same day. This year, each member of the family interpreted holiday chic in their own way. For Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, this meant a cerulean coat and cream sweater, while Princess Beatrice wore a traditional blue-and-green tartan. Tweeds were also on display, with Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester in a subdued gray coat and Kate’s sister Pippa Matthews in a sparkling, modern suit. Royal cousin Lady Sarah Chatto matched with Kate in a white coat dress.
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