Cancer Research UK Carol Concert (2012)

December 11, 2012: 

More than 1,000 guests attended the Cancer Research UK Carol Concert at St. Paul's Cathedral in London. After the concert, VIP guests are were invited to an intimate buffet in the crypt of the Cathedral. This event has raised more than £2 million to fund research into finding cures and kinder treatments for children, teenagers, and young adults with cancer. 

Several famous attendees included Edward Fox, Robert Bathurst, Edward Stourton, Tom Hiddleston, Paterson Joseph, and Juliet Stevenson. Princess Alexandra serves as Joint-President of Cancer Research UK. 

The celebrity guests led the audience in singing Once in Royal David's City, a Christmas carol based on the Cecil Frances Alexander's poem. 

1, Once in royal David’s city

Stood a lowly cattle shed,

Where a mother laid her baby

In a manger for his bed:

Mary was that mother mild,

Jesus Christ her little child.

2. He came down to earth from heaven,

Who is God and Lord of all,

And his shelter was a stable,

And his cradle was a stall;

With the poor, and mean, and lowly,

Lived on earth our Savior holy.

3. And our eyes at last shall see him,

Through his own redeeming love;

For that child so dear and gentle

Is our Lord in heav’n above,

And he leads his children on

To the place where he is gone.

Tom also read a poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The specific name of the poem wasn't printed but given the event it was most likely I Heard The Bells on Christmas Day.  

I heard the bells on Christmas Day

Their old, familiar carols play, 

and wild and sweet

The words repeat

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom 

Had rolled along

The unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime,

A chant sublime

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth

The cannon thundered in the South, 

And with the sound

The carols drowned

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent

The hearth-stones of a continent,

And made forlorn

The households born

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;

"There is no peace on earth," I said; 

"For hate is strong,

And mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good-will to men!"

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep; 

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men."

*Bonus tidbit: During his time in Cambridge Tom starred in Romeo & Juliet alongside Lydia Fox who is Edward Fox's niece. Bonus, Bonus Tidbit: A review for the play:"Tom Hiddleston made a convincing and likeable lovesick Romeo but was at times overshadowed by the energy and bravado of Jot Davies as Mercutio. Lydia Fox at times came across as a slightly nonchalant Juliet. It was difficult to believe she was head over heels in love with Romeo but she brought out the humour in many of her lines." Bonus, Bonus, Bonus Tidbit: Lydia is now married to Richard Ayoade who voiced Treebor in Early Man. 

Fashion: 

Tom Hiddleston wore his navy, three-piece Giorgio Armani suit. 

Credits: 

Cancer Research UK
Tatler
Getty Images
tom-hiddleston.com
Cambridge Arts Theatre
GroupThink