In a festive red Sarah Burton coat for Alexander McQueen, the royal boldly assumed the role of master of ceremonies as the world watched the Princess of Wales take center stage at her yearly ‘Together At Christmas’ carol concert.

The royal reminded royal fans that her presence was a gift after taking months off from public life due to her cancer diagnosis earlier this year. Her well-maintained outfit included a recycled red longline coat with an oversized velvet bow.

As Catherine’s Friday night ensemble garnered media attention, it was later disclosed that she had originally intended to forego her well-known festive coat in favor of a much more eye-catching ensemble.

The wife of Prince William stopped at the nave to welcome Chris Hoy and his family as she strolled through Westminster Abbey with her three children, greeting other guests along the way.

The Olympic cycling champion told the Princess that he had never visited Westminster Abbey before, after disclosing earlier this year that he has terminal cancer.

As the Princess, wearing her berry-red coat and gift-wrapped bow accessory, shook hands with Hoy’s daughter Chloe and young son Callum, she remarked, “I was going to wear sparkles too!” in reference to Chloe’s glittery dress.

It’s unclear which of her dresses Catherine would have worn, but considering the royal’s tendency to wear the same outfit over and over, it’s safe to assume that the Princess of Wales would have chosen a glittering dress from her collection.

Princess Catherine’s Most Spectacular Sparkle Dresses

The Princess delighted royal fans with her red sequined gown from the upscale British brand Needle & Thread at a glittering event she hosted at Buckingham Palace in 2020. This kind of style lends itself to the festive season and would have been a spectacular option for her carol service.

The mother of three could have worn her exquisite Jenny Packham caped dress, which she last wore to the “James Bond: No Time to Die” premiere, if she really wanted to steal the show.

The plunge neckline, £3,917 gown made royal fans gasp when the Princess stepped onto the red carpet wearing it – and it’s not known if she will ever wear it again.

The Princess of Wales wore a gorgeous sequin pink gown by Jenny Packham, her favorite designer for special occasions, in 2023 after dashing in a billowing pink gown at Crown Prince Hussein and Rajwa Al Saif’s royal wedding in Jordan.

At the 2021 Royal Variety Performance, Princess Catherine wore an identical Jenny Packham gown in emerald green, another hue that would have been ideal in the festive atmosphere of Westminster Abbey this Christmas.