Never before seen pictures of young Queen Elizabeth released as Royal Family mark first Christmas without her
NEVER before seen pictures of a young Queen Elizabeth have been released as the Royal Family marks first Christmas without her.
The Princess of Wales fondly shared a photo of the late monarch during the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas programme.
Sitting with Carys Hammond, 39, Akbar Khan, 50, and Lionel Digby, 87, each of the group shared some special pictures from Christmas time.
Kate revealed a black and white image of a young Queen Elizabeth participating in a Christmas performance.
She said: “It really resonated with me seeing her majesty here doing the production on Christmas Day during the second World War, which I thought was really special.”
Carys said: “She looks really happy doesn’t she?”
Kate continued: “I can remember doing this sort of thing as a little girl too.
“When I saw this photograph, it’s wonderful now, I see my children’s love for doing this sort of thing, putting on little shows for us.”
The princess joked she gets invited to join in and they end up dancing around the table.
Her three other guests also shared meaningful images as they reflected on the year that’s been.
Carys works at Whiston Hospital on Merseyside and has been a midwife for 20 years and often works on Christmas Day.
Akbar runs Bradford PHAB Club, a children’s disability club in Bradford. He has volunteered for 38 years helping to deliver food parcels, including on Christmas Day.
Ex-Veteran Lionel often volunteers on Christmas Day with the Salvation Army to provide a Christmas lunch for the lonely or those struggling during the winter period.
He shared that he sadly lost his wife Yvonne this year after 64 years of marriage this year, to which Kate offered her sincerest sympathies.
Kate dazzled as she joined her husband Prince William and children for the Together at Christmas carol concert.
The service, airing tonight on ITV, is dedicated to the Queen as the Royal family spends their first festive season without the late monarch.
The performers at the carol service this evening includes the Westminster Abbey choir, singer Craig David and Alfie Boe and Melanie C who sung a duet, while William and Dame Kristin Scott Thomas delivered readings.
A Christmas tree in the abbey was decorated with small Paddington Bear decorations, a nod to the late Queen’s famous sketch, while guests were greeted with atmospheric snowflakes from a snow machine as they arrived at the entrance.
Narrated by Catherine Zeta-Jones, Royal Carols: Together At Christmas was filmed on December 15 in front of an audience of more than 1,800 people at Westminster Abbey.