Royal fans
Royal fans were divided over an event organised by one of the King’s charities, which is tipped to clash with one of Princess Catherine's. The King’s Trust announced that its annual carol concert will take place at Westminster Abbey this year for the first time, to mark the charity’s 50th anniversary.
The event will take place on December 2, and it promises a “magical evening with timeless carols, special readings and world-class performances,” which will help “transform young lives” with every ticket purchased. It is organised by luxury cruise line Cunard. Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales’s annual Christmas Carols service also takes place at Westminster Abbey, usually in the first week of December.
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The clash in timing between the two events divided royal fans, who took to social media to express their views.
One user wrote on X: “The King’s Christmas Carol Concert this year will be held at Westminster Abbey just like the Princess of Wales’s annual Christmas concert.”
Another one commented: “Instead of joining and promoting the Princess of Wales Christmas Carol, he decided to compete!”
A third one appeared confused: “What’s that??? King’s Christmas carol? When was that a thing?”
A fourth one said: “It's on December 2nd. I'm not sure what I think.”
A fifth one protested: “King Charles is hosting a Carol Concert on December 2 at Westminster Abbey, following the exact same format Princess Catherine uses each year, including readings from celebrities.”
A sixth one added: “The small community carols held by the Trust were always up north, never had celebrity readings and were never held at Westminster Abbey.
“People are understandably upset about this.”
But others appeared to defend the King’s event, with one user writing: “This has been an annual event since 2018 usually taking place at St. Paul’s Church in Knightsbridge. The move this year to Westminster Abbey is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trust in a more prestigious & larger venue allowing for a greater number of attendees. The concert is usually broadcast cast on the radio and royals do not typically attend. There is no rivalry and no drama here.”
Another user added: “This is an annual event usually held in other churches. This may be a collaborative effort between the King and Princess of Wales. The Abbey will have been decorated and set up for performances.”
Princess Catherine's annual carol concert is filmed and broadcast on the BBC on Christmas Eve, with several members of the Royal Family in attendance.
It is a private, invite-only event. The King’s carol concert already has tickets available for sale through the charity’s website.