A shanty group who were asked to perform at the annual Christmas carol concert in Westminster Abbey have said the experience was like a dream.
Catherine, Princess of Wales, personally invited Fisherman’s Friends from Port Isaac, Cornwall, to sing a sea shanty in the Together at Christmas service.
Jon Cleave from the band said they were absolutely thrilled to receive the invitation and they “couldn’t actually believe it”.
He said Catherine even shared memories of her time singing their songs through the Covid pandemic.
Mr Cleave said: “It was terrifically exciting and we had to wait and see what we were going to be singing.
“It was like a dream to be honest with you.”
“During the lockdown her and her family were singing along with the shanties, that’s when it really took off,” he said.
“When we met her she said that they had all been singing along and they had come to us through that.
“She is obviously the Duchess of Cornwall so having that connection is really lovely.
“For years we used to sing in the harbour and collect for charities each week – we do our best to do that as most people in the small communities around the west country do,”
The Westminster Abbey service will air on ITV1 and ITVX on Christmas Eve and again on Christmas Day.
The service – a mixture of traditional and modern elements including people of all faiths and none – was held in Westminster Abbey on 5 December.
