Kate Middleton has
surprised TV viewers by accompanying singer Tom Walker on the piano in a
special performance for her carol service. Kate, who has played since she was a
child, sat at a grand piano in the candlelit Chapter House of Westminster
Abbey as the star sang his poignant hit For Those Who Can’t Be Here.
Tom said of her star turn: “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.”
The
song was broadcast on ITV as part of Royal Carols: Together at Christmas, which
was masterminded by Kate.
The
Scottish singer said of playing with the Duchess: “It was truly an honour.
Without a doubt, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience. She’s such a lovely,
kind and warm-hearted person and she took the time to thank everyone personally
for the opportunity to play together. It was a crazy pinch yourself kind of day
for me, to be in such a beautiful venue playing alongside the Duchess with my
band and a string quartet.
“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.”
Kate and Tom rehearsed once together before
recording the song in a couple of takes the day before the carol service took
place at the Abbey. The Duchess came up with the idea after meeting Tom at a
Forward Trust event, also attended by Ant and Dec, in October. She was
impressed by his song Leave a Light On, about the struggles of
people with addiction.
 |
| Royal Carols-Together At Christmas will air at 7.30pm on Christmas Eve on ITV |
A royal source said: “She was really
struck by that song and by him, so he was approached to play at the carol
service. When the Duchess heard Tom’s Christmas song, For Those Who
Can’t Be Here, which obviously speaks to a lot of what people have gone
through this year in terms of losing a loved one, she came up with the idea of
accompanying him on the piano.”
As
Kate revealed in her introduction to the carol service, “Music was so
important to me during the pandemic as I think it was to so many people
too.”
The source added: “Music was very important to her during the
lockdowns and playing the piano brought great comfort to her. She played a lot
during lockdown. She also recognizes the powerful way in which music brings
people together – especially during difficult times. For these reasons, she was
keen to be part of Tom’s performance in this way.”
Tom
wrote the song for his mum last year, following the death of his grandfather,
saying recently: “It was a tough time for everyone but especially my mum.
I wanted to write this song for her as I can’t imagine how difficult it is to
have a parent or a loved one absent at Christmas for the first time.”
Kate
played piano and the flute as a child reaching Grade 5 in both singing and
music theory. Daniel Nicholls, her piano music teacher from the ages of 11 to
13, said in 2011, “I don’t think she was ever going to be a concert
pianist.”
The
Duchess reportedly played the flute until the age of 18 and played in the
chamber orchestra and a group called the Tootie-Flooties while at St Andrew’s
Prep School in Pangbourne.
The
Queen and her sister Princess Margaret played the piano, but it is not known
whether Prince George, Princess Charlotte or Prince Louis have begun lessons
yet. While the Duke of Cambridge is not thought to play, his mother Diana,
Princess of Wales, played piano and the Prince of Wales played cello.
In her
introduction, the Duchess revealed her excitement over hosting the service at
Westminster Abbey, a place she said is “really special to William and
me”. The couple wed there in April 2011 and celebrated their tenth wedding
anniversary earlier this year.
Led by
the Duchess, and supported by The Royal Foundation, the carol service was
attended by people Kate and William met during recent engagements, as well as
members of the armed forces involved in Operation Pitting, young carers, faith
leaders and those who may have been more vulnerable or isolated during the
pandemic.
 |
| The service took place at Westminster Abbey |
Kate
described them as “inspirational individuals”, adding: “We owe
them a huge debt of gratitude for all they’ve done in bringing people together
and supporting their communities.”
She
said: “Music was so important to me during the pandemic as I think it was
to so many people too. But above all it’s about celebrating the goodwill, the
acts of kindness, love, empathy, and compassion to help people come through
these difficult times.
“I
hope everyone can enjoy this evening with their family and friends. And I wish
you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.”
The service showcased music from the
Westminster Abbey choir, as well as featuring performances from Leona Lewis and
Ellie Goulding. It also featured readings from Prince William, British
Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell, actor Tom Felton and presenter Kate
Garraway, plus a performance of To The Day, a composition written
for the service by poet and writer Lemn Sissay.
