What you need to know
Duchess Kate and Princess Charlotte’s bond was on display during the royal family’s Christmas church outing, just hours after the mother and daughter’s surprise piano duet was aired.
On December 25, Prince William and Duchess Kate attended the annual Christmas service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Norfolk with their three children (Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, 7) and other members of the royal family.
At one point, Princess Charlotte shared a sweet smile with her mother, 43, as the mother-daughter pair coordinating brown outfits for the event.
Samir Hussain/WireImage
On Christmas Eve, Charlotte and Duchess Kate appeared together in a special video, performing a piano duet to Erland Cooper’s “Holm Sound.” The Princess of Wales hosted the fifth annual holiday event at London’s Westminster Abbey on December 5, and the surprise performance was broadcast as part of the ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service broadcast.
“The essence of Christmas is about love in full bloom in the simplest and most human way,” Duchess Kate said in a clip posted to Instagram. “Not sentimentality or grandeur, but a gentle attitude, a moment of listening, a word of comfort, a friendly conversation, a helping hand. A presence. These simple acts of caring may seem small, but they contribute to the beautiful tapestry of life to which we all belong.”
Duchess Kate’s piano playing talent was revealed during the first ‘Together at Christmas’ carol service of 2021. She then performed in public for the first time, accompanying Tom Walker on keys for a performance of his song “For Those Who Can’t Be Here.”
The Princess of Wales has revealed that her only daughter is following in her musical footsteps and pursuing piano. Pianist Lang Lang said he discussed the matter with Kate at the Royal Variety Performance at London’s Royal Albert Hall in 2023.
“We talked about Charlotte. Her Royal Highness talked about Charlotte’s piano playing. I’m sure she’s good,” the pianist told Hello! magazine. “His Royal Highness told me that he told Princess Charlotte, ‘Hey, look, if you practice a lot you can become like him.'”
Samir Hussain/WireImage
Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to stay up to date on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle, and more!
Every Christmas, the British royal family gathers at the private estate of Sandringham in Norfolk, 110 miles north of London. Darren McGrady, who was a chef during Queen Elizabeth’s reign, previously told the Daily Mail that on Christmas Eve they had afternoon tea before exchanging gag gifts.
After going to church on Christmas, they return to Sandringham House for a turkey holiday lunch. At 3pm, families gather around the television to watch live coverage of King Charles’ Christmas speech, followed by afternoon tea with plenty of dessert.
