In a surprise appearance at the Eurovision Song Contest, Kate Middleton plays the piano: “Enjoy the show.”
The opening section of the global song contest featured a pre-recorded piano performance by the 41-year-old Princess of Wales, who shot it earlier this month in Windsor Castle’s Crimson Drawing Room. The winning song from the previous year’s competition, “Stefania,” by the Ukrainian group Kalush Orchestra, was performed by Middleton in an instrumental rendition.
The Duchess of Cambridge wore earrings that had belonged to the late Queen Elizabeth II together with a vivid blue one-shouldered chiffon Jenny Packham dress. Middleton’s dress was an homage to the blue and yellow colours of the Ukrainian flag.
The video began with an aerial image of Windsor Castle, then zoomed in on a window in the Red Drawing room before cutting to Middleton seated at a black grand piano and smiled as she started to perform the song that had been arranged by Joe Price and Kojo Samuel.
In addition to cuts to Middleton, the opening montage of Eurovision included performances of “Stephania” by a number of other artists including Kalush Orchestra. Andrew Lloyd Webber, Ms. Banks, Joss Stone, Ballet Black, Bolt Strings, and 2022 runner-up Sam Ryder were among the performers.
The final of the song competition is often conducted in the home nation of the previous year’s champion, but in 2023 it was hosted in Liverpool, United Kingdom because of that country’s continuing conflict with Russia.
According to her former teacher Peter Nicholls, Middleton began learning the piano when she was around 10 or 11 and continued until she was 13 years old. He stated to the Evening Standard in April 2012 that she was “absolutely lovely, a really delightful person to teach the piano.”
The princess performed in front of an audience for the first time in December 2021 during a Christmas carol concert she organised at Westminster Abbey. She played the piano as singer Tom Walker sang his song “For Those Who Can’t Be Here.”
People magazine was informed at the time by a source that Middleton came up with the idea on her own. The insider continued, saying that when in quarantine during the COVID-19 pandemic, she found “great comfort” in practising the piano.
The source claimed that the Duchess placed a high value on music during the lockdowns. She is also aware of the potent bonding effect of music, particularly under trying circumstances. She was eager to participate in Tom’s performance for these reasons.
In an interview with People, Walker gushed about Middleton’s performance, saying that she “absolutely smashed it.”
Walker added, “She completely killed it. It’s not easy to just get behind a piano with a bunch of musicians you’ve never performed with before and record live takes to camera.
“She’s such a lovely, kind and warm-hearted person,” he continued, “and she took the time to thank everyone personally for the opportunity to play together.”
Middleton wasn’t the only royal family member to show up unexpectedly at Eurovision. The 2023 Eurovision Song Contest also involved participation from King Charles and Queen Camilla. The couple made cameo appearances in the movie “Welcome to Liverpool” that was aired prior to the semifinals and opened the stage at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool two weeks ago.
