Major Kate Middleton update as Princess reveals key Christmas plan

The Princess of Wales will host her annual Christmas Carol concert at Westminster Abbey, as she continues her gradual return to royal life following cancer treatment.

Kensington Palace announced the news today after Kate had held a meeting with royal aides and representatives from the Royal Foundation to make plans for the festive event. It will be the fourth year the princess, who earlier this month announced she had completed her course of preventative chemotherapy after being diagnosed with cancer in February, has hosted the Together At Christmas event for local charities in front of a host of celebrity names.

Royal sources said it was further good news the mum-of-three was feeling well enough to take on more light work as she continues her recovery, while she looks forward to starting some public engagements in the future. Aides have stressed any engagements would be undertaken in line with Kate’s continued recovery, but the concert is the princess’s first confirmed engagement since the concert last December.

On her journey to recovery the princess did attend the Wimbledon Men’s Final in July, alongside her daughter Princess Charlotte, nine and sister, Pippa. A source said: “The princess continues to be making a good recovery and is looking forward to getting back to public life.”

The concert will be filmed in December and broadcast on ITV on Christmas Eve at 7.30pm. Kate, 42, was last year joined by pop royalty as she hosted the annual service at the Abbey. Beverley Knight, Freya Ridings, and James Bay all performed and the service was dedicated to all those who support children in their early years.

Previous years have featured additional material including films emphasising the importance of early childhood and contributions from celebrities such as Rio and Kate Ferdinand and Dame Sheila Hancock. An entry in the Court Circular, the official listing of the engagements of working members of the royal family will tomorrow read: “The Princess of Wales, Joint Patron, the Royal Foundation of The Prince and Princess of Wales, this morning held a Meeting at Windsor Castle.”

In June, as she continued her treatment, Kensington Palace said the princess has been working from home and taking meetings with her team. Last week, the Princess undertook another meeting in Windsor with her team at the Centre for Early childhood. It was the first official meeting the princess had undertaken since she was first hospitalised in January for abdominal surgery. She spent two weeks at The London Clinic before she was discharged and dealt with a secondary diagnosis of cancer some weeks later.

Kate was applauded earlier this month for her heartfelt statement where she spoke of her cancer journey being “complex, scary and unpredictable for everyone, especially those closest to you”. The princess added: “With humility, it also brings you face to face with your own vulnerabilities in a way you have never considered before, and with that, a new perspective on everything.”

Kate also spoke of how her husband Prince William, 42, had been by her side and together they had come to “reflect and be grateful for the simple yet important things in life, which so many of us often take for granted. Of simply loving and being loved.” She added: “Doing what I can to stay cancer-free is now my focus. Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long and I must continue to take each day as it comes.”