Royal family on song in show of harmony at Christmas service

Hannah Furness

THE Christmas trees were decorated with stuffed teddies. Excited children shuffled in their seats, craning for a glimpse of Father Christmas. And the hostess, the Princess of Wales, beamed proudly at a Westminster Abbey bursting with festive joy, her sons and daughter by her side.

Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis came bearing handwritten letters sending Christmas wishes to vulnerable children, posted in a red postbox covered in a sprinkle of decorative snow.

The wider Royal family gathered to show their support and enjoy the carols: the Duchess of Edinburgh walking with Princess Beatrice and her stepson Wolfie alongside Princess Eugenie, Zara Tindall and Peter Phillips and his two young daughters.

If they were thinking of troubles from afar, there was no sign. The Prince of Wales gave a simple reading about the birth of Jesus, with no hint of hidden messages to the wider world.

The hour-long service, which is becoming an annual fixture of the royal calendar, was this year dedicated to the Princess’s early years campaign, with the 1,500 guests chosen for their work supporting babies and young families.

They included young fundraising heroes, midwives, teachers, carers, health visitors, volunteers and families who have faced their own challenges and come to the attention of the Princess during the course of her work.

The influence of Diana, Princess of Wales – herself known as a champion of children – was felt, with

a song by her close friend George Michael, played on John Lennon’s piano, lent by his estate.

The Princess arrived at

The Waleses, left, and Zara Tindall, below, arrive at the Abbey; and, inset, the royal children post their Christmas letters

the Abbey early to greet her guests, and thank performers including Jim Broadbent, Dame Sheila Hancock and Roman Kemp, George Michael’s godson.

Every child was invited to write a Christmas card to another youngster. One of the Princess’s children is believed to have written to Tony Hudgell, the nine-year-old boy who has raised millions of pounds for charity by walking on his prosthetic legs.

The members of the Royal family were dressed in co-ordinated red and cream for the festive season.

The King and Queen were not present, but had sent dozens of fir trees from the Windsor estate to decorate the Abbey.

Some were decorated with stuffed toys, delighting the children who stood on their seats to get a better view of proceedings. All were dressed in their finest, neatly plaited hair and polished shoes for what will no doubt be a highlight of the year.

The occasional crying baby was met with smiles. Children of different needs were catered for, with ear defenders for those who found it a little much.

There was particular excitement when Oscar-winning actor Broadbent read an extract from JRR Tolkien’s

with youngsters checking with their parents that the real Santa was coming.

Arriving guests were treated to carols and Christmas songs performed by the Action for Children Young Carers Aloud choir, made up of 12 youngsters including one aged six.

The Soul Sanctuary Choir, who performed for the Prince and Princess of Wales at the fifth anniversary of the Grenfell disaster, sang, while children’s laureate Joseph Coelho read a specially written poem about growing up.

The Princess crouched down to chat to seven-year-old Oscar Burrow, from Lancaster, who when aged six climbed 12 mountains, raising more than £40,000 for Derian House Children’s Hospice in Chorley, Lancashire.

His mother Kimberley Burrow said afterwards: “She said she’d heard about what he’s done and he’s doing a fantastic job, and hopes what he’s doing will inspire other children to do amazing things.”