Kate Middleton’s annual Christmas concert draws major snubs: Here’s why

Westminster Abbey opened its doors for the annual Christmas carol, Together at Christmas, hosted by Kate Middleton.

With the Princess of Wales leading the arrivals at the festive bash on Friday, December 5, she was joined by various celebrity guests and members of her own family, including Prince William and their three children George, Charlotte, and Louis — and yet, the absence of certain royals sparked just as many headlines as the gathering itself.

While some of Kate’s relatives skipped the ceremony despite being invited, others are known not to attend due to unspoken boundaries.

King Charles & Queen Camilla

Heads of the family, and the royal establishment, the King and Queen were not in attendance at Together at Christmas because of a lesser discussed protocol.

PEOPLE reported last year that Charles and Camilla have never attended the event in view of “the order of royal hierarchy” — “When both Charles or Camilla are present, the order of royal hierarchy typically takes precedence. However, given that the event is Kate’s passion project and she was the host, it makes sense that she and Prince William would be the senior-most royals in attendance.”

Princesses Beatrice & Eugenie

The Princesses of York, Beatrice and Eugenie, have been regular fixtures at the annual concert — which is why their absence came as a shock to many, especially since Kensington Palace had confirmed their invitations earlier.

While Eugenie shared via her social media that she wished she could have attended the festivities, HELLO! reported that both of the sisters were likely absent to avoid making headlines about “their ongoing family drama” following their parents, Andrew and Sarah Ferguson’s title removal.

Princess Anne

Not one to “usually attended the event in the past either”, Princess Anne’s absence this year was due to one of her work obligations.

According to Town & Country, “Known to be one of the hardest working members of the British royal family,” Princess Anne was busy with “the German state visit and attended a banquet at the Guildhall” followed by performing investiture at St. James’s Palace the morning after Princess Kate’s concert.

Pippa Middleton

Besides the King’s younger sister, Kate’s own, Pippa Middleton missed out on the annual celebrations for the first time since its inception in 2021, usually in attendance alongside her husband James Matthews.

According to HELLO!, “It hasn’t been revealed as to why Pippa, 42, and James, 50, weren’t at the special celebration this year, but the author and columnist has been keeping a low profile recently as she raises her three children, Arthur, seven, Grace, four, and Rose, three.”