The Duchess of Cambridge gave millions of Britons a Christmas treat on TV last night as she played the piano to accompany singer Tom Walker with a poignant song performed by candlelight at Westminster Abbey. Kate, who has tickled the ivories since she was a child, recorded the song with Walker in the Chapter House of the Abbey, one day before a community carol service on December 8, which was shown on ITV last night.
They played his Christmas single ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ together, after the Duchess had the idea for the performance following a meeting with Walker when she heard him play at a charity function in October. At that event for The Forward Trust, a London-based charity that helps people with drug and alcohol dependence, Walker played ‘Leave a Light On’ – a song about the struggles of those experiencing addiction.
The 30-year-old singer was then approached to play for the carol service, with Kate, 39, having come up with the idea of accompanying him on the piano after music brought ‘great comfort’ to her during the lockdowns. The Duchess was said to be ‘quite nervous’ during her first rehearsal ‘because she hadn’t played with another musician in a very long time’, reported Mirror Online.
Walker said the pair had to sit on opposite sides of the room to practice the emotional performance due to Covid. He told MailOnline the whole plan was ‘very, very secret’, adding that they were both scared of messing it up. While Kate has played the piano since childhood, the type she was practicing on, which would be the same one used in the performance, was different to hers at home, so she had to get used to it, revealed Walker.
He said: ‘We rehearsed the song like nine times and by the end of it she’d absolutely nailed it, and then she went away for a couple of days and practiced it, and then we finally got to do the recording of it.’ He added: ‘I think we were both really nervous that it wasn’t going to go quite to plan and one of us would let down the other person or whatever, but she was absolutely fabulous – she smashed it.’ The song was written by Walker for ‘anyone raising a glass around the table remembering those who can’t be with us’ this festive season – as hundreds of thousands of people are set to spend Christmas Day in self-isolation with COVID-19, while others think of members of their family and friends they have lost to the virus or other causes.
Walker described the Duchess as a ‘lovely, kind and warm hearted person’ and praised her for having ‘absolutely smashed’ the performance, adding that it was a ‘crazy pinch yourself kind of day’ for him. He also praised Kate for being an ‘amazing musician’ and said that, although she was quite nervous when they first rehearsed in a studio, she went away and ‘invested a lot of time and energy into getting it right’. Walker gave the Duchess a backing track to practice with before the performance and said he was ‘shocked at how much better she was’ when it came to the actual show, which left him ‘really impressed.’ Explaining that his mother had a ‘total freak out’, he said: ‘It was truly an honor playing alongside The Duchess for Royal Carols: Together At Christmas. Without doubt, it was a once in a lifetime experience.’
‘I thought she absolutely smashed the performance; it’s not easy to just jump behind a piano with a bunch of musicians you’ve never played with before and record live takes to camera, but she completely nailed it.’ He continued: ‘I certainly won’t forget that in a hurry. My mum had a total freak out when she saw it on the telly.’
‘I know this song will resonate with a lot of people this Christmas and my heart goes out to anyone raising a glass around the table remembering those who can’t be with us.’ The performance formed part of the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas event, which was held by Kate as a thank you to the people who have supported their communities during the pandemic.
Asked about the song, Walker explained: ‘Well, very sadly in the first pandemic we lost my grandfather. It was really tough, because we couldn’t get up to see him, we couldn’t be by his side, we didn’t get to say goodbye. It was tough for the whole family but it was especially tough for my mum because it was her dad. And the whole basis of the song is every year around the table my grandmother will raise a glass and say, “this is for those who can’t be here this year, let’s take a little moment to remember them”. And I was just thinking about how that moment was going to be for my mum for the very first time around the dinner table at Christmas without her dad, because he came every year for Christmas without fail. So, that’s what the whole song’s about.’ Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk to Tom Walker, Ellie Goulding and Leona Lewis at the service on December 8.
He was also asked about whether Kate had spoken about Prince Philip, given the Queen is spending her first Christmas as a widow after her beloved husband died aged 99 in April. Walker said: ‘The Duchess didn’t specifically say. She said she loved the lyrics – but she didn’t lead onto it being about that, but I think just everybody has lost somebody in their lives at some point and Christmas is the time to remember people who aren’t around who you used to have really fond memories of and still do, but you can’t reminisce with them in person. So I think that’s why she connected with the lyrics.’ Pictured: Prince William also spoke during the service, taking to the lectern to read a verse from Luke 2: 1-7, from the Bible (pictured)
Speaking about what Kate was like to be around, he continued: ‘She was just so nice. I think the first rehearsal we did she was quite nervous because she hadn’t played with another musician in a very long time and she’s got a piano at home, but the one that we’d rented in for the day was going to be the same one we were using for the actual service. It was completely different to hers, so she was trying to get the feel for that. She’s just lovely, really chilled out, very nice, seems really approachable and just really lovely. I was very nervous for the first five to ten minutes but I was all good after that.’ Pictured: William and Kate wearing black face masks as they entered Westminster Abbey, with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie spotted sitting in the row behind them, next to Kate’s sister, Pippa.
And as for the rehearsals, Walker said they spent about 90 minutes together and ran through the song nine times, adding it was ‘socially distanced of course, we made sure all the measures were followed where they could be’. He continued: ‘And we just rehearsed it until she was like, right, I think I’ve kind of got it now. And I was like, well, look, I tell you what we’ll send you a backing track that’s like the song but without the piano and a click track, and you can just play along to that and see how you get on.’ He continued: ‘When she turned up for the actual performance, you could really tell she’d gone to town practicing because I was shocked at how much better she was. She really invested a lot of time and energy into getting it right and making sure that it was good, so I was really impressed – great musician.’ Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talking to clergymen and attendees of the event on December 8, 2021.
Asked if she mentioned about doing more music in the future, Walker joked: ‘Well, we’re working on the album! No, she didn’t mention anything else about that, but I never thought I’d get a chance to play with a member of the Royal Family, so whatever comes after this I don’t think I’ll be too surprised. I’ll be opening up for her soon!’ Kensington Palace had released a teaser video on Instagram today of Kate walking up to a piano before taking a seat and beginning to play, although the clip was uploaded without any sound. Pictured: Will and Kate greet the ‘special guests’ who were invited to the service for having supported their communities during the pandemic.
During the special, Leona Lewis gave a stunning performance of O Holy Night, while donning a stunning sparkling dark green gown.
Ellie Goulding also performed during the service, donning a satin full length dress complete with sheer long sleeves and heavy silver embellishing that scattered outwards from her waist. The British star sang Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas.
Harry Potter star Tom Felton (pictured) read the poignant poem A Letter From A Soldier To His Sister, from The Christmas Truce, by Aaron Shepherd.
Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Potter film franchise, wore a dark-colored suit and white shirt as he read the heartfelt poem amid servicemen and women.
Kate Garraway gave a reading during the service, amid her husband Derek’s well-publicized and ongoing battle with long Covid. The journalist and TV presenter read Love Came Down At Christmas by Christina Rossetti.
Pictured: Kate and William arrive to the iconic Westminster Abbey for the extra special carol service.
A group of carol singers gathered outside the Abbey as the guests entered.
Carol singing children and teens don woolly hats and scarves as they welcomed guests to Westminster Abbey.
The dozens of attendees were seen singing along to classic Christmas carols, pictured here lighting up their hymn sheets.
The jaw-dropping Westminster Abbey, first established in the year 960, created a stunning backdrop for the service.
The service opened with a choirboy singing Once In Royal David’s City (pictured).
A group of choirboys joined in the opening hymn of Once In Royal David’s City, donning traditional red and white robes.
The scene was set at Westminster Abbey, with a traditional nativity scene and Christmas trees (pictured).
Kate’s performance formed part of the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas event, which was held by Kate as a thank you to the people who have supported their communities during the pandemic.
Prince William and Kate smile at each other during the carol service.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey on December 8.
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The Duke of Cambridge speaks to Kate Garraway before the carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8.
Kensington Palace released these photographs of Kate decorating a Christmas tree at Westminster Abbey earlier this month.
Kensington Palace released these photographs of Kate decorating a Christmas tree at Westminster Abbey earlier this month.
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles while decorating a Christmas tree at Westminster Abbey in London earlier this month.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex taking part in the Westminster Abbey service.
Pictured (Front, from left): The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Countess of Wessex, and Zara and Mike Tindall at the service. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie stand behind William and Kate, while Pippa Matthews and James Middleton can also be seen.
The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smile as they take part in the Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London.
The Duchess of Cambridge smiles in a trailer video for the ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ service shown on ITV.
Sophie, Countess of Wessex, with Zara and Mike Tindall taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ in London.
Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at Westminster Abbey in London for the Christmas service on December 8.
Singer Leona Lewis performs during the Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey in London on December 8.
Leona Lewis sings during the Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey in London.
Mila Sneddon, six, standing at the crib during ‘Royal Carols – Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey on December 8.
Kate Garraway gives a reading during ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ which is being held at Westminster Abbey.
Choristers from the Westminster Abbey Choir take part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ on December 8.
Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell gives a reading during the royal carols service at Westminster Abbey.
The Countess of Wessex meets a reindeer as she leaves the Together At Christmas community carol service on December 8.
Mila Sneddon, six, watched by her mother, Lynda, lighting a candle at the crib during the service at Westminster Abbey.
Members of the congregation light a candle at the crib during the event.
A chorister taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ which was held at Westminster Abbey on December 8.
The Queen’s Piper playing by the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior during the ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ service.
Choristers from the Westminster Abbey Choir taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ on December 8.
A young member of the congregation taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey.
Poet Lemn Sissay performing ‘To The Day’, a poem created for the Westminster Abbey carol service on December 8.
Members of the congregation take part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey.
Pictured: The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge arriving for the service at Westminster Abbey on December 8.
In October, the Duchess of Cambridge met TV presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and musician Tom Walker at the launch of the Forward Trust’s Taking Action on Addiction campaign at BAFTA in London on October 19, 2021. It was at this event that Kate met Walker before he was later approached to take part in the Westminster Abbey service.
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