Black Choir's Performance At Royal Wedding

The Kingdom Choir, a London-based gospel group, performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in May 2018. The choir, led by Karen Gibson, sang a rendition of Ben E. King's Stand By Me at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The performance was widely acclaimed and marked a cultural blending at the royal wedding. The choir's performance surprised viewers as it was the first time in British history that a gospel group had performed at a coronation at Westminster Abbey.

The choir was a London-based gospel group

The choir that sang at Prince Harry's wedding to Meghan Markle was a London-based gospel group called the Kingdom Choir. The choir was conducted by Karen Gibson, who founded the group more than 20 years ago.

The Kingdom Choir performed a rendition of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" at the royal wedding in 2018. The song was chosen by the bride and groom, who were very particular about what they wanted to be sung and how. Gibson said that gospel is usually a "very lively and vibrant" genre, so it took some time for the choir to understand the couple's request for a "stripped back" version of the song without a beat. The choir sent 12 versions of the song to the couple, but in the end, they performed a version of their own choosing.

The Kingdom Choir's performance at the royal wedding brought them newfound fame. Gibson said that the group was "not prepared" for the intense response to their song, which included their website crashing twice and their following increasing from 700 to 35,000 in just two days. The choir signed with Sony Music UK and released their debut album, also titled "Stand By Me," in November 2018. They have since performed around the world and even returned to sing at King Charles III's coronation in 2023.

The Kingdom Choir performed a rendition of Stand By Me

The Kingdom Choir performed a rendition of "Stand By Me" at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. The song was originally made famous by Ben E. King, an American soul artist. The choir's performance was a highlight of the couple's culture-blending ceremony.

The Kingdom Choir is a London-based gospel group led by Karen Gibson. The group was invited to perform at the wedding by Prince Charles, who reportedly "loves gospel." Gibson said she was "incredulous" when she received the invitation and that she didn't fully believe it until it actually happened.

The choir's performance at the royal wedding marked a turning point for the group. Their website crashed twice on the night of the wedding, and their following skyrocketed from 700 on the Friday before the wedding to 35,000 by the Sunday after. The choir signed with Sony Music UK and released their debut album, also titled "Stand By Me," in November 2018. They have since performed around the world and collaborated with artists such as Gladys Knight.

The Kingdom Choir's performance at the royal wedding was a significant moment, not just for the group but also in terms of representation. Gibson noted that it was revolutionary to have a Black gospel choir perform at a royal wedding. She expressed her hope that the performance would help bring gospel music, which has been very underground in England, to a wider audience.

The choir was conducted by Karen Gibson

The Kingdom Choir, conducted by Karen Gibson, has been wowing audiences for over 20 years. Founded and led by Gibson, the choir is based in London and has been going strong since the early 2000s. Gibson is a respected conductor in the UK and has even performed for Prince Charles at Buckingham Palace with one of her children's choirs.

Gibson's leadership and the choir's talent were on full display when they performed at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. The choir's performance was so well-received that it catapulted them into the spotlight. They signed with Sony Music UK and released their debut album, "Stand By Me," in November 2018. The album featured the title track, a cover of Ben E. King's classic, as well as 14 other songs, including an original composition called "Chases."

Gibson's conducting style is demanding but effective. During rehearsals, she expects her choir members to be focused and attentive. She is not afraid to raise her voice to get their attention and ensure they are at the top of their game. This approach clearly pays off, as the Kingdom Choir has gone on to achieve great success and recognition.

The choir's performance at the royal wedding was a significant moment, not just for the choir but also in terms of representation. Gibson noted that it was revolutionary to have a Black gospel choir perform at a royal wedding. She felt that it shone a spotlight on gospel music, which had been very underground in England for many years. The performance also held special significance for the Windrush generation, who had faced recent challenges regarding their citizenship rights.

Gibson's talent and dedication to her craft have left an indelible mark on the musical landscape, and the Kingdom Choir continues to inspire and entertain audiences worldwide.

The song was requested by the bride and groom

The Kingdom Choir's performance at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle was, in fact, requested by the bride and groom. Karen Gibson, the choir's conductor, revealed that the couple was very hands-on and particular about what they wanted to be sung and how.

The couple requested a rendition of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me" and "This Little Light of Mine." Gibson shared that it took a while for the choir to understand what the couple meant when they asked for the song to be stripped back without a beat. The choir sent 12 versions of the song to the couple, but none were approved, so they ultimately had to go with what they thought was best.

The Kingdom Choir's performance was widely acclaimed and catapulted the group into the spotlight. They signed with Sony Music UK and released their debut album, also titled "Stand By Me," featuring the song they performed at the royal wedding and 14 other songs, including an original composition called "Chases." They also went on to perform at the closing ceremony of the Invictus Games in Sydney in October 2018 and are set to tour the UK, Australia, and the US.

The choir performed at King Charles III's coronation

The Kingdom Choir, who performed at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, also sang at the coronation of King Charles III. The choir, founded and led by Karen Gibson, is a London-based gospel group. At the wedding, they sang a rendition of Ben E. King's "Stand By Me."

The choir's performance at the coronation was particularly notable as it marked the first time in British history that a gospel group had performed for a coronation at Westminster Abbey. The choir, consisting of eight handpicked singers from the Kingdom Choir, was known as the Ascension Choir for the coronation. They sang "Alleluia (O Sing Praises)" by composer Debbie Wiseman.

Prince Harry, who attended the coronation without Meghan Markle, may have felt a sense of familiarity as the choir's performance transported him back to his wedding day. The choir's conductor, Karen Gibson, later revealed that it was actually Prince Charles who invited them to perform at the royal wedding, expressing his love for gospel music.

The Kingdom Choir's performance at the royal wedding propelled them into the spotlight, leading to a record deal with Sony Music and a busy schedule of performances around the world. Their performance at King Charles III's coronation further solidified their place in British history.

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