Eurovision: The Princess of Wales plays the piano in a surprise appearance at the Grand Final in Liverpool | Ents & Arts News

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The 67th Eurovision Song Contest is set to be a night of glitter – starting with the future queen showing off her musical skills in a short video.

By Bethany Minelle, arts and entertainment reporter

Saturday, May 13, 2023 at 20:38, United Kingdom

The Princess of Wales makes a surprise appearance in the film’s opening sequence for this year’s Eurovision Song Contest 2023 grand final.

Kate formed part of a pre-recorded video that kicked off the show, also featuring stars including Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sam Ryder and Joss Stone.

Image: The Princess of Wales plays the piano in the Eurovision opening sequence

In the film, she plays a brief piano role, which was recorded earlier this month in the Vermilion Drawing Room at Windsor Castle.

Latest Eurovision: Liverpool take center stage as the competition gets underway

Dressed in a royal blue one-shoulder gown with her hair in loose curls, she sat against a backdrop of sparkling chandeliers and golden mirrors.

The piece of music was created especially for her by Joe Price and Kojo Samuel.

Last year’s winning video also featured Kalush Orchestra singing to Stefania at the famous Maidan Nezalezhnosti metro station in the heart of Kiev, Ukraine.

Other performers included rapper M Banks, the professional Black Ballet Company, and musician Bolt Strings.

Meanwhile in the auditorium, Kalush’s orchestra was joined by a band of drummers on stage for the grand finale opening as fireworks lit up the arena.

Twenty-six acts will lead to a 6000 strong audience in the arena and about 160 million viewers watching worldwide.

Photo: Kalush Orchestra performs the voices of a new generation

The show will be hosted by Graham Norton, Hannah Waddingham, Ukrainian TV star Julia Sanina and Alesha Dixon.

After the shows, the show will start announcing the winner via a lengthy voting process.

The current favorites to win are Sweden’s Lauren and Finland’s Kaggia, with British actress May Miller hoping to reach the top ten.

Photo: Mae Mueller sings I wrote a song

A flag parade featuring all countries showcased the artists before their performance, which includes classic Eurovision stunts including falling skirts, trampolines, striptease and plenty of skeletal props.

Kate’s engagement isn’t the royal’s first contact with the beloved pageant, and comes after King Charles and Queen Camilla’s visit to Liverpool Arena last month.

During their visit, the royal couple lit up the square with lights to celebrate the Opening Ceremony and chatted with UK hopeful May Mueller, with the monarch telling her: “We will be watching you with great interest – we urge you to keep going.”

Sky News in Liverpool covers everything new from the competition as it happens.

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