The Princess of Wales and Princess Charlotte performed a piano duet together during Kate's Christmas carol concert, with the composer praising their confident performance. The duo played "Holm Sound" by Scottish composer Erland Cooper. ITV1 aired it on Christmas Eve as part of its screening of the annual "Together At Christmas" service.
Cooper told BBC Breakfast the invitation to Windsor Castle came as a surprise. He had spoken with the princess earlier in the year and knew she enjoyed playing the piece with family. "It was a big surprise to be invited to Windsor Castle just last week and hear it performed by a pair of princesses," Cooper said.
No direction needed
The composer had high praise for the royal performers. "I didn't need to give direction, they were so good," Cooper told BBC Breakfast. He described Princess Charlotte as "very confident" in her playing, adding: "She played it really well. She plays it so beautifully."
The princesses performed the piece several times during filming at Windsor Castle's Inner Hall. Cooper participated himself when asked, offering a few pointers, but described himself mainly as a "cheerleader". He acknowledged the challenge they faced: "Performing in front of a film crew and the person who wrote the music is a nerve-wracking thing for anybody, I'm sure."
Meaning behind the music
The piece holds special significance. Cooper originally wrote "Holm Sound" for his own mother, also named Charlotte, and it explores themes of motherhood. "This is the wonderful coincidence, it's about how we see our parents in our children's eyes and but then when you look at your mother and you look at granny, you see your children. It's about that sort of full circle moment and it's about motherhood," Cooper said.
The performance setup had the Princess of Wales playing with her left hand while Princess Charlotte used her right hand. The duo reportedly smiled at each other while performing.
Annual celebration
The Princess of Wales has staged her Christmas celebration for the past five years. This isn't her first time surprising audiences with musical performances – at her inaugural carol event, she accompanied singer-songwriter Tom Walker on piano.
The carol concert featured other prominent participants including Chiwetel Ejiofor, who read "A Visit From St Nicholas", and Kate Winslet, who delivered a reflection on love at Christmas.
Family members in attendance included Kate's parents Carole and Michael Middleton, her brother James Middleton and his wife Alizee Thevenet, as well as Zara and Mike Tindall, the Duchess of Edinburgh, and Prince Michael of Kent.
In a letter accompanying the order of service, the Princess of Wales reflected on "how deeply our lives are woven together", emphasizing the importance of connections during the festive season.
Note: Artificial Intelligence (AI) created this article.
