The service, hosted by Catherine at Westminster Abbey on December 5, 2025, was broadcast on ITV on Christmas Eve. It featured a star-studded lineup including Katie Melua, who performed a reimagined version of White Christmas, and Dan Smith, lead singer of Bastille, who sang O Holy Night.
While the event celebrated themes of love, compassion, and connection—with readings by celebrities like Kate Winslet and Chiwetel Ejiofor, and a heartfelt pre-recorded piano duet between the Princess and her daughter Princess Charlotte—some musical choices divided audiences.
Social media quickly filled with criticism aimed at the contemporary twists on traditional carols. One viewer described Katie Melua’s rendition as “mangling White Christmas,” joking that it was “better if we had a silent night.” Others turned their ire to Dan Smith’s performance, with comments such as: “This guy is massacring my favourite Carol. This version of O Holy Night is dreadful,” and “Wtf they’re murdering these songs.”
