Inside Kate Middleton’s Carol Service, According to an Attendee: ‘After a Hard Year, She Put on a Brave Face’ (Exclusive)

Kate Middleton’s carol service was about a lot more than singing seasonal songs.

On Friday, Dec. 6, 1,600 guests fill the pews at Westminster Abbey in London to attend Kate’s fourth annual Together at Christmas concert, which recognized hard work done to help communities throughout the U.K.

Jenny Powell, who helps people with disabilities in her town of Abergavenny in South Wales, tells PEOPLE, “It was like saying, ‘We do acknowledge you.’ “

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Since the COVID pandemic, Powell set up a group, The Gathering, to do craft-making, provide sensory spaces, offer cooking opportunities and partake in bingo. “In our group, everyone understands everyone else,” she says.

At Kate’s Together at Christmas concert, the royal placed a letter on each seat that summed up the theme of love and kindness.

“It was a gorgeous letter,” Powell says. “It really showed her appreciation of what we’re all doing. It was quite touching and brought tears to my eyes.”

She continues, “These things that I’ve been doing have impacted the lives of people I’ve been supporting, but knowing that the royal family is aware of these little things is lovely.”

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Powell recalls the steel drum band playing and servers handing out mince pies at the event, as well as a “kindness tree,” which was positioned near the door. There, helpers handed out red labels and pens “so you could write a note to hang on [the tree] before you went in,” Powell says.

When Princess Kate, Prince William and their three children — Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis — arrived, “They looked so happy together,” Powell says.

“It’s been a hard year, but she put that brave face on and she looked absolutely gorgeous,” she adds of Kate, 42, who recently completed chemotherapy after her cancer diagnosis.

Other guests at the event included Kate’s parents, Carole and Michael Middleton; her sister, Pippa Middleton; her brother, James Middleton, and his wife, Alizée Thevenet.

The families of the survivors of the Taylor Swift-themed dance class, in which three children were killed in a July 29 mass stabbing, were also in attendance.

Olivia Dean, meanwhile, performed, and readings were done by William, 42, as well as actors including Richard E. Grant.

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Speaking more about taking part in the event, Powell tells PEOPLE, “I do things for my community because I like doing it and I never expected to be invited.”

“I’m really grateful that they’re acknowledging what some people are doing in the community. It really meant something to have that opportunity to be part of that experience,” she continues.