Kate Middleton Reflects on ‘Difficult Times’ in Christmas Message

Kate Middleton is sharing a heartfelt letter reflecting on her year ahead of the Christmas season.

Her letter was announced via Instagram on Saturday, November 30, alongside black and white photos of the Princess of Wales’ neat signature at the bottom of the message.

“A special letter, reflecting on the importance of love, empathy and how much we need one another in the most difficult times,” the caption read, revealing the letter will be given to “each of the guests” attending her “Together at Christmas” carol service at Westminster Abbey on Friday, December 6, as well as the 15 other “Community Carol Services” across the country, “thanking those attending for all they do for others.”

In her message, Kate, 42, shared her “heartfelt thanks” to those participating in her Carol Service, noting, “Christmas is one of my favourite times of the year,” per Hello!. The Princess of Wales has hosted the “Together at Christmas” carol service for four years in a row.

“It is a time for celebration and joy, but it also gives us the opportunity to slow down and reflect on the deeper things that connect us all,” she wrote. “It is when we stop and take ourselves away from the pressures of daily life, that we find the space to live our lives with an open heart, with love, kindness and forgiveness — so much of what the Christmas spirit is all about.”

Kate added that Christmas “encourages us to consider the experiences and feelings of others” just as it “reflects our own vulnerabilities and reminds us of the importance of giving and receiving empathy, as well as just how much we need each other in spite of our differences.”

Her letter continued, “Love is the light that can shine bright, even in our darkest times. We all have something we can offer one another. Gentle words or a receptive ear, an arm around an exhausted shoulder, or silently being by someone’s side.”

Earlier this year, Kate took a step back from her official royal duties after she was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. In September, she completed her chemotherapy treatment and has begun steadily returning to work.

Her husband, Prince William, confirmed earlier this month that his wife will “be doing a bit more” in 2025. He also referred to 2024 as the most “dreadful” year of his life due specifically to his wife’s illness, as well as his father King Charles III’s own cancer diagnosis.

“It’s probably been the hardest year in my life,” he told U.K.’s The Times in an interview published November 10. “So, trying to get through everything else and keep everything on track has been really difficult.”