The countdown to Christmas is approaching and one royal duchess
is already packing her diary with festive celebrations.

The Duchess of Gloucester already has a December packed full of
yuletide celebrations and the Royal Family hasn’t even revealed all
her engagements up until Christmas Day.

The Duchess, 79, will be enjoying plenty of festive cheer on the
build up to the big day.

The first Advent celebration she’s set to attend takes place on
November 30 and it’s in a beautiful setting. The Duchess will take
part in the  Advent Carol Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral.

It’s being held by the Friends of St. Paul’s Cathedral, which was set up in
1952 to support the famous church. The Duchess of Gloucester is
their patron.

Just three days later, the Duchess of Gloucester is at another
Christmas service. On December 2, she and the Duke of Gloucester
will be at the Hereford Cathedral Perpetual Trust
Advent Carol Service at The Guards’ Chapel in London.

The choir of Hereford Cathedral perform at the Guards’ Chapel
every year and this service began as a way of celebrating the links
that the cathedral has with local military groups. It’s now a way
for those living in or near London to enjoy the music of the
Hereford Cathedral choristers in the run up to Christmas.

A third and very poignant carol service is also already in the
diary of this duchess. On December 8, the Duchess of Gloucester
will attend the Evening of Hope Carol Service at St.
Mary Abbots Parish Church in Kensington.

This carol service is held by the charity, Missing People, for
those who are missing and those who are hoping for the return of a
missing person. It also remembers those who have passed away. The
Duchess of Gloucester is patron of Missing People.

The Duchess of
Gloucester is also a regular at the Christmas carol service
organised every year by the Princess of Wales and which is expected
to take place at Westminster Abbey again later in December.

The Duchess of Gloucester was out and about with the Royal
Family at the weekend. Along with the Duke of Gloucester, she was
at the Royal British Legion Festival of Remembrance which was held
at the Royal Albert Hall.

Prince George attended the Festival of Remembrance for the first
time this year with the Duchess of Gloucester smiling broadly at
him as he took his place in the royal box.