The National Lottery hosted a special Pantoland show for key workers at The London Palladium on December 11.
Showing appreciation and gratitude for frontliners, the one-off event welcomed essential workers and their families—from the National Health Service staff, the Metropolitan Police Service, and the London Ambulance Service to the military, teachers, refuse collectors, delivery drivers, retail staff, and workers on frontline lottery-funded projects.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge make their red carpet debut with the Royal kids at The London Palladium on December 11, 2020
It was also a family affair for the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge that Friday night as they attended the special event with their kids.
Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis finally made their red-carpet debut at the pantomime event, marking the Royal family’s first red-carpet appearance together.
The Cambridges step out in blue-and-red to watch the special Pantoland show for key workers
The Cambridges stepped out in a blue-and-red motif. Prince George, 7, dressed in a Ralph Lauren striped cable-wool and cashmere sweater with a collared shirt underneath and a pair of dark jeans. He finished off his classy look with a pair of black leather shoes.
Prince George wears a Ralph Laurent striped sweater with dark jeans and black shoes
Meanwhile, Princess Charlotte, 5, wore a blue-and-gray plaid babydoll dress from Nicoletta Fanna. She paired the look with black tights and Mary Janes from Italian children’s shoe brand PèPè.
The youngest, Prince Louis, 2, wore a hand-me-down blue wool Amaia Kids jacket, previously owned by Prince George.
Princess Charlotte in Nicoletta Fanna babydoll dress and PePe shoes and Prince Louis in hand-me-down Amaia jacket
Before the performance, Prince William delivered a speech, thanking frontliners for their efforts and sacrifices amid the pandemic.
Wearing a red sweater with a white shirt and a navy blazer, the Duke of Cambridge said: “We are here tonight for a very special performance. Special, because of you, the key workers here in the audience. You have given your absolute all this year and made remarkable sacrifices.”
Prince William gives a speech in a red sweater, a white shirt, and a navy blazer
He continued: “You are representative of the huge number of people across the UK who have stepped forward to make a difference this year in so many crucial ways. The country owes you a huge debt of gratitude.”
He concluded his speech by wishing everyone a happy Christmas.
Prince William thanked the key workers who attended the special Pantoland show
For Kate Middleton’s outfit, the Duchess of Cambridge opted for a navy midi dress from Italian-born London-based designer Alessandra Rich.
She turned heads in the petal-print number, which features a frilly neckline, a cinched waist, and balloon sleeves.
Kate Middleton looks chic as always in a petal-printed midi dress from one of her favorite labels Alessandra Rich
Wearing her signature blown-out curls, Kate glammed up further with smokey eye-makeup and nude lipstick.
She then accessorized her look with a gold-plated Maya bangle from Halcyon Days and a pair of Simone Rocha faux-pearl curb-chain earrings, which you can buy for $310 at Matches Fashion.
Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, wears her signature blown-out hair and smokey eye makeup
Carrying a tiny Smythson Ludlow Concertina clutch, Kate completed her look with a classic pair of black Prada pumps.
Kate Middleton completes her look with a pair of Prada pumps
Nigel Railton, the CEO of Camelot UK, which runs the UK National Lottery, said of the special event: “The National Lottery is delighted to be able to work with The London Palladium and Qdos Entertainment to host this special performance to thank the key workers in these extraordinary times. Whether it is those individuals playing a critical role in keeping us safe, staff ensuring our public services continue to run or the volunteers supporting the vulnerable, their contribution has been vital during this pandemic.”
Andrew Lloyd Webber, the owner of the London Palladium, also expressed his gratitude for the frontline workers.
“This year, we all need the magic and cheer of Christmas more than ever. However, one group of people deserve special recognition: the challenges of 2020 have been immeasurably lessened by the dedication and sheer brilliance of this country’s key workers. This group of national heroes and their families have made countless sacrifices throughout 2020 and I am delighted that we are able to hose this performance of Pantoland at The Palladium as a small token of our enormous thanks and admiration.”
The Grade II West End theater has a capacity of 2,286 seats but seating numbers were reduced for the show to ensure social distancing.
The Royal couple also had a surprise in store for the children of the frontline workers after the show, which they revealed a week later in a video posted on their Kensington Royal Instagram.
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The video shows the children of the workers being interviewed by the staff in elf costumes about their favorite toys. And as the show begins, the elves dash to Hamleys toy store to get the kids’ toys.
The show then ended with surprise gifts for the children from the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in partnership with Hamleys and The National Lottery UK.
Kate Middleton a.k.a. the Queen of Thrift
While Kate Middleton is known for her sophisticated, feminine style, she has also been praised for her thrifty approach to dressing.
It’s no secret that Kate loves to recycle her outfits. And early this month, the Duchess of Cambridge has proven once again that she’s the queen of thrift after re-wearing her navy-blue Hobbs Bianca maxi coat to visit a community center in Yorkshire.
Kate Middleton re-wears her Hobbs coat on the second day of the Royal train tour on December 7, 2020
First worn during a visit to Wales early this year, the military-style coat features burnished crested buttons and shoulder epaulets.
She paired the timeless topper with Jigsaw Sport Luxe jersey wide trousers in navy and with a pair of Emmy London Josie pumps in midnight suede.
To prevent the spread of coronavirus, Kate wore her floral printed Amaia cotton face mask.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at Batley Community Centre, West Yorkshire
That same day, Kate was also seen recycling her blue Catherine Walker coat as she arrived at the Edinburgh Waverley Station with Prince William on the second day of their three-day tour across the country.
She first wore the coat when she visited Princess Ingrid Alexandra sculpture park in Oslo during the royal tour of Sweden and Norway with Prince William.
Prince William and Kate Middleton meet the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Sandra Cumming as they arrive by train at Edinburgh Waverley Station on December 7, 2020
This time, she paired her cornflower blue coat with Stuart Weitzman for Russel and Bromley Halfnhalf stretch rider boots.
Kate Middleton recycles her blue Catherine Walker coat for the Royal train tour day 2
Credit: Avalon / WENN