Youngsters invited to get creative with The Seahorse Project
Our children's bereavement team is inviting under 18s to a free creative afternoon.
St Wilfrid’s invited to Royal Carol Service
Date published: 09 December 2025
Five staff and volunteers from St Wilfrid’s were thrilled to represent the hospice at The Princess of Wales’s ‘Together at Christmas’ Carol Service at Westminster Abbey. They were invited as the hospice is a patronage of Her Majesty The Queen.
Doctor Charlotte Harrison, Physiotherapist Noor, Communications Officer Jenny Griffiths, and Volunteers Valerie Cooper and Dina Holland attended the fifth annual event. This year, the theme was coming together to celebrate the connections that shape our lives.
The Christmas theme could be seen all around, with several huge wreaths, made by celebrities including Dame Mary Berry on behalf of the Royal Horticultural Society, Christmas trees and twinkly lights inside and outside the Abbey. Before the main service, guests enjoyed performances by young artists from Future Talent, a music charity co-founded by the Duchess of Kent, who died in September.
Princess Catherine, who wrote a letter to each guest with a message of gratitude and hope, spent time chatting to some of them before the service. Prince William, George, Charlotte, Louis and other members of the royal family also joined the service.
Words and music filled the Abbey with readings by Prince William, actors Kate Winslet, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Babatunde Aléshé and Joe Locke. Musical performances were given by Dan Smith, Zak Abel, Griff, Fisherman’s Friends, Katie Melua and Paul Gladstone Reid. Youth group Platinum Performers also treated guests to a dance routine down the aisles.
Jenny said: “It was a wonderful occasion to be a part of, and we were all delighted to be chosen to represent the hospice. Despite the Abbey being huge, the soft lighting and gentle music made it feel more intimate. We even had a couple of opportunities during the service to light our own candles. The highlight for me was seeing Princess Catherine when she did her walkabout, but the whole event was unforgettable.”
The Carol Service will be shown on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.
Pictured left to right: Valerie, Dina, Noor, Charlotte & Jenny
More stories
Vintage pop-up heads to high street
St Wilfrid's is set to bring vintage style to the high street this weekend with a special pop-up event.
Community patient shares story
“When I was asked if I’d ever considered help from the hospice for my COPD, the alarm bells went off in my head.”
Standing firm in our commitment to inclusion
Our response to unacceptable and homophobic comments on social media posts
Youngsters invited to get creative with The Seahorse Project
Our children's bereavement team is inviting under 18s to a free creative afternoon.
Vintage pop-up heads to high street
St Wilfrid's is set to bring vintage style to the high street this weekend with a special pop-up event.
Community patient shares story
“When I was asked if I’d ever considered help from the hospice for my COPD, the alarm bells went off in my head.”
Standing firm in our commitment to inclusion
Our response to unacceptable and homophobic comments on social media posts
