The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA
The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA
The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA
The Princess of Wales appears in a promotional television clip for a special Christmas carol service. The Royal Foundation / ITV / PA

Princess of Wales promises 'special carol service' ahead of Westminster Abbey event


Soraya Ebrahimi
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The Princess of Wales beams in front of a Christmas tree in a promotional television clip for a “special carol service” at Westminster Abbey.

Princess Kate will host the service, due to take place at the Gothic abbey in central London on Friday, which will be broadcast on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve at 7.45pm.

The television clip featuring Princess Kate's Royal Carols: Together At Christmas was shown on ITV1 at 9.45pm on Thursday.

“Join me this Christmas Eve for a special carol service, as we say a heartfelt thank you to all those supporting the very youngest members of our society during those crucial early years,” the princess says in the clip.

The service, supported by The Royal Foundation, will honour those who work to support babies, young children and families in communities across the UK.

Linked to Princess Kate’s Shaping Us campaign, the service will showcase “the hope of new life and why it is so important to build supportive, nurturing worlds around children and the adults in their lives”.

The Westminster Abbey choir will perform popular carols, alongside musical performances by the likes of Jacob Collier, Freya Ridings and James Bay, and a special duet by Beverley Knight and Adam Lambert.

Readings will be given by speakers including the Prince of Wales, Micheal Ward, Emma Willis, Roman Kemp and Jim Broadbent, while a specially commissioned poem written by Joseph Coelho, the Children’s Laureate, will be read by Leonie Elliott.

Kate, Princess of Wales’s red carpet style - in pictures

  • The Princess of Wales wears an altered Alexander McQueen dress to attend the 2023 Bafta Awards in London on February 19. AFP
    The Princess of Wales wears an altered Alexander McQueen dress to attend the 2023 Bafta Awards in London on February 19. AFP
  • The Duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress along with the diamond and pearl Lotus Flower Tiara for a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on December 6, 2022. Getty Images
    The Duchess wore a red Jenny Packham dress along with the diamond and pearl Lotus Flower Tiara for a Diplomatic Corps reception at Buckingham Palace on December 6, 2022. Getty Images
  • Kate re-wore this white and gold Alexander McQueen gown for the 2020 Baftas on February 2, 2020 in London. Getty Images
    Kate re-wore this white and gold Alexander McQueen gown for the 2020 Baftas on February 2, 2020 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a black and white off-the-shoulder column gown by Roland Mouret for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere on May 19, 2022 in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore a black and white off-the-shoulder column gown by Roland Mouret for the Top Gun: Maverick premiere on May 19, 2022 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a silk duchesse satin dress by British designer Phillipa Lepley to attend a reception hosted by the Governor General at Baha Mar Resort on March 25, 2022 in Nassau, Bahamas. Getty Images
    Kate wore a silk duchesse satin dress by British designer Phillipa Lepley to attend a reception hosted by the Governor General at Baha Mar Resort on March 25, 2022 in Nassau, Bahamas. Getty Images
  • Kate's green tulle gown, worn for a dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica, at King's House on March 23, 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica, was by Jenny Packham. Getty Images
    Kate's green tulle gown, worn for a dinner hosted by Patrick Allen, Governor General of Jamaica, at King's House on March 23, 2022 in Kingston, Jamaica, was by Jenny Packham. Getty Images
  • Kate's magenta dress by the label The Vampire's Wife, worn for a special reception hosted by the Governor General of Belize in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee on March 21, 2022 in Cahal Pech, Belize. Getty Images
    Kate's magenta dress by the label The Vampire's Wife, worn for a special reception hosted by the Governor General of Belize in celebration of Queen Elizabeth II’s platinum jubilee on March 21, 2022 in Cahal Pech, Belize. Getty Images
  • The Princess of Wales wore an Alexander McQueen dress to the 2019 Baftas, repeating it for the 2023 event. Getty Images
    The Princess of Wales wore an Alexander McQueen dress to the 2019 Baftas, repeating it for the 2023 event. Getty Images
  • The green Jenny Packham column dress Kate wore to the 2021 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London was a re-wear from her 2019 tour of Pakistan. Getty Images
    The green Jenny Packham column dress Kate wore to the 2021 Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London was a re-wear from her 2019 tour of Pakistan. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a decade-old Alexander McQueen dress for the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore a decade-old Alexander McQueen dress for the Earthshot Prize 2021 at Alexandra Palace on October 17, 2021 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore the Bond-themed 'Goldfinger dress' by Jenny Packham to attend the No Time To Die world premiere on September 28, 2021 in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore the Bond-themed 'Goldfinger dress' by Jenny Packham to attend the No Time To Die world premiere on September 28, 2021 in London. Getty Images
  • Kate wore a green Jenny Packham gown to attend the Baftas on February 18, 2018, in London. Getty Images
    Kate wore a green Jenny Packham gown to attend the Baftas on February 18, 2018, in London. Getty Images

The Christmas Eve broadcast will also feature additional content, including an introduction by Princess Kate.

It will include contributions from Rio and Kate Ferdinand, Ugo Monye, Andrea and Virginia Bocelli and Dame Sheila Hancock.

The service will see Westminster Abbey filled with “sustainable, eco-friendly festive decorations”.

New features this year include a Christmas post box located outside the abbey for children to send handmade Christmas cards and best wishes to others who might be struggling this festive season.

Guests will be treated to carols and Christmas songs upon arrival by the Action for Children Young Carers Aloud choir, made up of 12 young carers including one aged six.

Attendees have been nominated by lord-lieutenants across the nation, in addition to charities associated with members of the royal family.

They will be joined by those working with young people – a key focus area of Princess Kate’s work through The Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood.

Bert van Marwijk factfile

Born: May 19 1952
Place of birth: Deventer, Netherlands
Playing position: Midfielder

Teams managed:
1998-2000 Fortuna Sittard
2000-2004 Feyenoord
2004-2006 Borussia Dortmund
2007-2008 Feyenoord
2008-2012 Netherlands
2013-2014 Hamburg
2015-2017 Saudi Arabia
2018 Australia

Major honours (manager):
2001/02 Uefa Cup, Feyenoord
2007/08 KNVB Cup, Feyenoord
World Cup runner-up, Netherlands

RESULT

Esperance de Tunis 1 Guadalajara 1 
(Esperance won 6-5 on penalties)
Esperance: Belaili 38’
Guadalajara: Sandoval 5’

What the law says

Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.

“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.

“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”

If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.

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1. Kylian Mbappe - to Real Madrid in 2017/18 - €180 million (Dh770.4m - if a deal goes through)
2. Paul Pogba - to Manchester United in 2016/17 - €105m
3. Gareth Bale - to Real Madrid in 2013/14 - €101m
4. Cristiano Ronaldo - to Real Madrid in 2009/10 - €94m
5. Gonzalo Higuain - to Juventus in 2016/17 - €90m
6. Neymar - to Barcelona in 2013/14 - €88.2m
7. Romelu Lukaku - to Manchester United in 2017/18 - €84.7m
8. Luis Suarez - to Barcelona in 2014/15 - €81.72m
9. Angel di Maria - to Manchester United in 2014/15 - €75m
10. James Rodriguez - to Real Madrid in 2014/15 - €75m

Ferrari 12Cilindri specs

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Dolittle

Director: Stephen Gaghan

Stars: Robert Downey Jr, Michael Sheen

One-and-a-half out of five stars

Pathaan
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England Test squad

Joe Root (captain), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Jonny Bairstow (wicketkeeper), Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler, Alastair Cook, Sam Curran, Keaton Jennings, Dawid Malan, Jamie Porter, Adil Rashid, Ben Stokes.

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Cast: Loujain Adada, Zeina Khoury, Farhana Bodi, Ebraheem Al Samadi, Mona Kattan, and couples Safa & Fahad Siddiqui and DJ Bliss & Danya Mohammed 

Rating: 1/5

LA LIGA FIXTURES

Thursday (All UAE kick-off times)

Sevilla v Real Betis (midnight)

Friday

Granada v Real Betis (9.30pm)

Valencia v Levante (midnight)

Saturday

Espanyol v Alaves (4pm)

Celta Vigo v Villarreal (7pm)

Leganes v Real Valladolid (9.30pm)

Mallorca v Barcelona (midnight)

Sunday

Atletic Bilbao v Atletico Madrid (4pm)

Real Madrid v Eibar (9.30pm)

Real Sociedad v Osasuna (midnight)

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Who was Alfred Nobel?

The Nobel Prize was created by wealthy Swedish chemist and entrepreneur Alfred Nobel.

  • In his will he dictated that the bulk of his estate should be used to fund "prizes to those who, during the preceding year, have conferred the greatest benefit to humankind".
  • Nobel is best known as the inventor of dynamite, but also wrote poetry and drama and could speak Russian, French, English and German by the age of 17. The five original prize categories reflect the interests closest to his heart.
  • Nobel died in 1896 but it took until 1901, following a legal battle over his will, before the first prizes were awarded.
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home. 

Updated: December 08, 2023, 6:06 AM