The family were joined by several royal relatives, including Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh, pregnant Princess Beatrice, Zara Tindall, Lady Gabriella Windsor and Kate Middleton's mother Carole and sister Pippa. Each child brought a note for the kindness tree, with Louis expressing gratitude to his grandparents for playing the game with him. The message may be a reference to Carole and Michael Middleton, who are known for their devoted grandparents.

George, Charlotte and Louis have a close relationship with them, living not far away in Bucklebury, England. The Middletons have supported their daughter throughout a challenging year. Carole and Michael appeared in a touching video shared by the princess to announce the end of her care in September. They were also seen playing cards with the Welsh family at Anmer Hall, where Louis sat on William's lap alongside Michael while Carole and George concentrated on playing cards.

Earlier this year, the Middletons joined William at Royal Ascot, where he helped his mother-in-law after she got stuck in the grass. William met Kate's family when they became friends at university. James shared that he initially gave William a hard time but grew to trust him over the years. William bonded with the Middletons while studying at Sandhurst, near Bucklebury. During their visit to the church, George and Louis wore the same coats as their mother and then met the Dean of Westminster, Dr David Hoy. Once inside, the family lit candles while singing Christmas carols.

Catherine wore a stunning red Sarah Burton for Alexander McQueen coat and presided over the love and compassion-themed ceremony, which celebrated those who help others. Catherine spoke to singer Paloma Faith about how her son Louis had planned a surprise for Charlotte, who loves ballet. Despite his age, Louis managed to keep it a secret for nearly two weeks, although he almost revealed it on Christmas morning.

Charlotte's excitement during the performance showed that Louis had succeeded in keeping it a secret. The Welsh family plan to maintain royal Christmas traditions, such as walking to church on December 25 and sharing a meal together. However, they will also make their celebrations more intimate by hosting a Christmas party at Anmer Hall, separate from the larger gatherings hosted by the monarch.