Pippa Middleton, Meghan Markle, and Their Husbands Attended a Carol Service for Harry's Late Friend

In their first appearance together since the birth of their first baby, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attended a Christmas Carol service with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle at St. Luke’s Church in London.

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In their first appearance together since the birth of their first baby Arthur, Pippa Middleton and James Matthews attended a carol service at St. Luke’s Church in London. The annual service is hosted by the Henry van Straubenzee Memorial Fund, which honors Prince Harry's friend who died in a car accident at a young age. Per People, Harry and Meghan also participated in the event, while Pippa and James sat in the audience.

Pippa attended the service in a burgundy coat with a fur collar by French Connection, which (like her royal sister often does) was a re-wear from the same service in 2015. This is the first time Meghan has attended the Christmas Carol service, and she wore a navy maternity top with a matching navy blazer to fit her ever-growing baby bump.

Harry and Prince William are both patrons of the Fund, and attending the service is an annual tradition for the brothers. William couldn't go this year, as he was busy at the Queen's Diplomatic Reception with Kate.

Harry and Meghan not only attended but both also spoke: Meghan read from the poem “Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson, saying they chose it because “it sums up the spirit of what the Henry van Straubenzee Fund does to empower young children.”

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(Image credit: Getty Images)

Harry made a speech praising the fund for its work with women and schools in Uganda. He also spoke about his "very special" late friend. “Mrs van Straubenzee, you have created the most incredible legacy for your son," he said.

Given the holiday season, December promises to be a busy month for royals and royals-adjacents like Pippa. Kate and Meghan were also seen in similar-hued burgundy looks in recent outings at the end of November, so it looks like Pippa's getting some royal inspiration for her looks too.

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(Image credit: Max Mumby/WPA Pool)

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Katherine J. Igoe
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Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York TimesParentsInStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLEHarper’s BazaarSeventeenGood Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award. 

Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeanshow sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.