Kate Middleton is set to make a major move forward in her return to work, with one royal expert suggesting it will be a “great source of comfort” to her.
The Princess of Wales will be hosting her annual carol service this Christmas, Kensington Palace announced. Kate’s Together at Christmas event will take place in Westminster Abbey in London on Friday, December 6.
The news comes after she completed her chemotherapy treatment in September. Royal commentator Katie Nicholl has suggested Kate will be looking forward to getting back to work as she recovers.
Nicholl said, “When the matter of your health has been shaken it shatters your world. I’m sure that being able to get back on email, to get back to meetings, to have that connection with the real world has been a source of great comfort for her.”
Speaking to The Sun, she added, “The wonderful thing about Catherine and why she always makes the front pages is because that smile lights up any room she’s in. It’s not forced, fake or artificial, it’s genuine and authentic because she takes great joy from the work that she does.”
Kate’s Together at Christmas concert will also be attended by Prince William. It’s currently unclear if the couple’s children – Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – will be attending.
This will be the fourth time the Princess has hosted Together at Christmas. The special service aims to celebrate work being done in communities throughout the UK.
There will be 1,600 people invited to this year’s Together at Christmas service. A Kensington Palace spokesperson said Kate wants to celebrate those supporting people in need and who have “shown that love is the greatest gift we can receive.”
The statement continued: “This theme takes inspiration from the Christmas story which encourages us to consider the experiences of others and the important human need of giving and receiving empathy.”
While Kate is returning to work, it’s believed William has been urging his wife to “put herself first” and make sure she focuses on her recovery. “For obvious reasons, he wants this to be put in perspective alongside her own recovery,” they said. “He’s putting his foot down and urging Kate to draft a schedule that puts herself first, no excuses,” a source said.
The source continued, “Next year is going to be a very big year, and ideally William would love it if Kate’s able to carry out her engagements as close to normal as possible. But he’s also crystal clear that her health comes first, and he’s let everyone around them know that he doesn’t want her to dive back in too quickly.
Speaking to Heat World, the source explained how William is worried Kate will “overdo it and put her health at risk,” pointing out how she is “still fragile.” They said his current priority is his wife’s long-term wellbeing.
The source then claimed William has given strict instructions to the royal family’s aides not to overload Kate. They added, “He’s urging Kate to stay focused on her steady recovery rather than putting too much on her plate. He just wants to be sure she feels supported without unnecessary pressure.
