Princess Kate’s Christmas carol concert was held at Westminster Abbey on December 6 but will air on ITV at 7.30pm tonight.
Viewers around the country will be offered a glimpse into the Princess of Wales’s star-studded and heartwarming celebration of the festive season – but some think they have spotted an unexpected familair face in a new trailer for the broadcast.
A ginger-haired and bearded figure in military dress is caught on camera in the preview of the royal concert, prompting fans to speculate that her estranged brother-in-law Prince Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and lives in the US, could have hopped back over the pond to support his sister-in-law.
Unfortunately, the man in question is just a doppelganger – with Harry planning to spend Christmas in California and his frosty relationship with King Charles and Prince William making an appearance at the carol concert an unlikely prospect.
There’s no denying that the man in RAF uniform bears a striking resemblance to the Duke of Sussex, with his beard, hair, facial features and build all strongly resembling Prince Harry.
Speculation around the mystery man puts extra emphasis on Harry’s absence from the concert and the royal family’s wider Christmas traditions, which include gift-giving at Sandringham on Christmas Eve – something the prince remembered fondly in his explosive memoir Spare.
He described it as a “free-for-all, with scores of family members talking at once and pulling at bows and tearing at wrapping paper”.
But Harry will be spending this Christmas thousands of miles away in the Montecito home he shares with his wife Meghan Markle and the couple’s two children, Prince Archie, five, and Princess Lilibet, three.
While the 40-year-old prince may not make an appearance in tonight’s broadcast, those tuning in from around the UK will get a glimpse into the Princess of Wales’ fourth consecutive Christmas concert – sure to be imbued with an extra poignance after Kate’s highly-publicised chemotherapy treatment earlier this year.
The King and Queen weren’t in attendence at Westminster Abbey on December 6, as Camilla continued to recover from a viral chest infection, but 26 other members of the royal family showed up to support the 42-year-old mother-of-three.
The ceremony included readings linked to the theme of love and empathy, delivered by speakers including the Prince of Wales, Olympian Adam Peaty OBE, Sophie Okonedo CBE, Michelle Dockery and Richard E. Grant.
Musical performances from Paloma Faith, Olivia Dean and Gregory Porter will also be shown in the Christmas Eve broadcast, alongside a special opening message from Kate, urging viewers to “slow down and reflect on the deeper things”.
