Celebrities join the Princess of Wales for a carol service to thank Britain's volunteers

The Prince and Princess of Wales and their children have attended the Together at Christmas carol service where they were joined by Hollywood stars.

But the focus of Kate 's annual service at Westminster Abbey was the UK's local communities and the princess took the time beforehand to thank volunteers from across the country.

Her smartly-dressed children Prince George, 12, Princess Charlotte, 10, and Prince Louis, seven, hung loops of red paper bearing their handwritten names on a "Connection Tree".

Image: Royals attend the Together At Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey, in London, on 5 December. Pic: Reuters

The tree represents togetherness and the importance of moments of connection, and was covered with paper chains, created as each guest left a loop with their name.