Kate Middleton’s touching and captivating piano performance during her Westminster Abbey carol concert has made viewers gasp after she aired it on television last night.
The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, stunned onlookers as she played the piano to accompany singer Tom Walker with a poignant song performed by candlelight at the service in London, which was a royal family affair.
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 yesterday evening.
They played his Christmas single ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ together – and despite the Duchess reportedly feeling ‘quite nervous’, fans rushed to Twitter to praise her performance.
Some others noted that Kate seemed to channel her mother-in law Princess Diana. She surprised everyone in Australia in 1988 with her piano performance.
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Kate Middleton, pictured (left), left TV viewers speechless with her touching and mesmerizing piano performance at Westminster Abbey’s carol concert.
Some royal supporters noted Kate’s apparent channeling of Princess Diana, her late mother in law (pictured), who stunned the world in 1988 when she performed her own piano concert in Australia.
Despite Kate reportedly feeling ‘quite nervous’, fans rushed to Twitter to praise her performance (above)
While Prince Charles and Princess Diana were visiting Melbourne as part of their 1988 Royal Tour of Australia, they also visited the Melbourne College of Arts.
When there, the princess delighted well-wishers by playing part of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 apparently with no sheet music.
The second visit of Diana to Australia was five months later than her first.
News footage shows Prince Charles and Princess Diana entering a rehearsal space where musicians perform in a semicircle.
Charles gets pushed to learn the cello from Professor Henri Touzeau who was his music teacher and worked later in Australia.
Before putting the bow down, the prince plays some notes. He then looks at the princess who has a stylish white suit with a matching navy hat and wide-brimmed cap.
Reaction: Some fans pointed out the similarities between Kate and Diana’s piano performance
On their 1988 Royal Tour of Australia, Prince Charles and Princess Diana made a visit to Melbourne College of Arts. When there, the princess delighted well-wishers by playing part of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2. (pictured), apparently not with any sheet music
After some hesitation Princess Diana finally takes her place at the piano, and she begins the concerto. The newsreader described it as “complicated”.
Princess Diana, a talented musician, started piano playing as a child.
Ruth Boche Baroness Fermoy was her maternal grandmother. She was a gifted pianist who studied at the Paris Conservatoire during the 1920s with Alfred Cortot.
One fan wrote about Diana and Kate: “She looks exactly like Princess Diana. She plays the piano, too.
Another commented, “Princess Diana was a good pianist too!” What a beautiful gift the Duchess shared. We have enjoyed watching all of her talents: beekeeping to photography and even the piano.
Kate is the pianist, and Tom Walker is singing his Christmas song For Those who Can’t be Here. The show aired on ITV at Christmas Eve
Reaction: After her performance, audiences were filled with praises for the Duchess. One said, “Such an emotional and beautiful performance.”
Meanwhile, viewers were full of praise for the Duchess of Cambridge following her performance, with one saying: ”Such a beautiful and moving performance.’
Another said: ‘This is absolutely gorgeous and Kate on the piano for Tom Walker?? Absolute magic.
The third was: “Oh my… Catherine is on the piano!” Even though the cat was frozen, it didn’t know if the tree would be safe.
Fourth: “This song and Duchess Kate’s piano playing was touching for all who have lost someone lately. Remember them with the Holidays. We are grateful!
Kate and Walker performed Walker’s Christmas song “For Those Who Couldn’t Be Here” together after Kate had an idea following a meeting she had with Walker at an October charity event.
Walker sang ‘Leave a Light On,’ a song about addiction at the event of The Forward Trust in London.
Walker gave praise to Kate, pictured at the piano in Friday’s ITV broadcast. She said she felt nervous during rehearsal, but she persevered and put in lots of effort.
Kate (pictured far left) and Tom Walker, (center) performed an emotive performance at Westminster Abbey by candlelight.
The 30-year-old carol singer was approached by Kate to perform for the service. Kate had come up with the idea to accompany him on the piano, after the music provided ‘great comfort’ during 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 explained that Walker and Walker had to stand on opposite sides to practise the Covid performance.
MailOnline received a statement from him confirming that their entire plan was secret and that both of them were scared to mess it up.
Although Kate is a piano player since her childhood, she discovered that the one she used for the performance was not the same as the one she used at home. Walker explained this to Walker.
Prince William and Kate look at one another at “Royal Carols Together at Christmas” at Westminster Abbey, December 8.
He stated that they had rehearsed it nine times. By the time she finished it, she was completely proficient. Then she practiced for several days, before we recorded 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.’
Walker composed the song to remember those who couldn’t be there this Christmas. Walker wanted to encourage people to raise a glass to remind others of the loss of family members and friends to whom they are grieving.
Walker described Duchess as “lovely and kind” and noted that she was warm-hearted and friendly. Walker also said it was an inspiring day for him.
He also spoke highly of Kate as an ‘amazing singer’, and noted that she had been nervous the first time they rehearsed together in a recording studio. However, she left and continued to ‘invest a lot energy into making it perfect’.
Walker provided a backing track for the Duchess to practice with prior to her performance. He said that he was shocked at the improvement in the performance, and was left’really impressed’ by it.
His mother suffered a ‘total panic attack’ and he explained, saying: “It was truly an honor playing alongside The Dukes for Royal Carols Together At Christmas. It was an unforgettable experience that you will never forget.
“I thought that she did an amazing job. It’s hard to jump on a piano and play with musicians you don’t know, let alone record the live performances to camera. But she totally nailed it.
“She’s a warm, loving and generous person.
“It was crazy to feel like you had to pinch yourself, being in such beautiful venues playing with The Duchess along with my band and a string trio.
“I won’t forget it in a hurry. It was a complete freakout for my mum when it came on TV.
“I know that this song will resonate strongly with a lot people this Christmas. My heart goes out and to everyone who is raising a glass at the table for those who cannot be there.”
This performance was part of Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, which Kate held as a way to say thank you for all those who supported their communities in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Sources close to the royal family said that the Duchess was responsible for the concept. She was impressed by Tom when she met him and heard him play Leave a Light On – a song about the struggles of those experiencing addiction, an issue which as you know, she is passionate about – at a Forward Trust event in October.
He was invited to the service and his Christmas song “For Those Who Couldn’t Be Here”, which is so relevant for many, struck a chord.
“She’s been playing the piano since childhood.
“Music was important for the Duchess of Cornwall during lockdowns, and she found that playing the piano provided great comfort.
‘She also recognises the powerful way in which music brings people together – especially during difficult times. In these circumstances, she wanted to join Tom’s performances in this manner.