Prince William remembers Queen's 'spirit of togetherness' at Christmas

The Prince and Princess of Wales arriving at the carol service, which will air on ITV on Christmas Eve.

Prince William paid tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth II at a special Christmas carol concert at Westminster Abbey hosted by his wife, the Princess of Wales.

The 'Together At Christmas' concert was attended by 1,800 guests and will air on ITV on 24 December. 

Addressing guests, the Prince of Wales quoted from the Queen's 2012 Christmas Day speech when Her Majesty said that she was "always struck by the spirit of togetherness" during the festive season and called Christmas a time "when we remember that God sent his only son 'to serve, not to be served'".

The service was held to recognise "the selfless efforts of individuals, families and communities across the UK, and celebrate and showcase the joy that human connection and togetherness can bring".

The Prince and Princess of Wales were accompanied by their children, Prince George and Princess Charlotte.

King Charles, the Queen Consort and other members of the royal family were also in attendance. 

The service was dedicated to the late Queen "and the values Her Majesty demonstrated throughout her life, including duty, empathy, faith, service, kindness, compassion and support for others".

Traditional and modern elements were combined "to encompass people of all faiths and none". 

During the service, the Westminster Abbey choir performed traditional carols, including 'O Come, All Ye Faithful', which was selected for the occasion through a public poll.

News
A brief history of Christmas bans
A brief history of Christmas bans

These days, Christmas is hard to miss and nearly impossible to avoid. But at various times it has been banned in different countries, including Britain. This is the story …

Organisers of Christmas evangelistic campaign thrilled with impact
Organisers of Christmas evangelistic campaign thrilled with impact

Organisers of this year's Shine Your Light Christmas evangelistic outreach have been "overwhelmed" by the response from local churches.

Reach out to others, says Salvation Army, as 1.8 million Brits set to spend Christmas Day alone
Reach out to others, says Salvation Army, as 1.8 million Brits set to spend Christmas Day alone

People are being urged to reach out after polling suggested 1.8 million UK adults will spend Christmas Day alone, even though they do not want to.

Another Christmas in hardship for Gaza church
Another Christmas in hardship for Gaza church

For Christians sheltering in the Holy Family parish in Gaza, there will be few comforts this Christmas.