Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding is often remembered for the wrong reasons. But one ultra-special moment which slipped through the cracks for many is still going viral on YouTube six years after the wedding aired: the spectacular performance of Ben E. King’s “Stand By Me” by The Kingdom Choir’s gospel singers.
Tenor singer Paul Lee (who also performed at the Queen’s Golden Jubilee) leads this sensitive rendition of the ’60s hit at St George’s Chapel in Windsor, leaving over 25 million viewers stunned by his and the choir’s ethereal balance of white wedding traditionalism and raw gospel bliss.
It was the first time a black gospel choir had been personally invited to sing at a British Royal Wedding by a Royal. In this case, a request from the bride and groom via the then-Prince Charles’ office, with the note to “bring them the best in the land,” led the coordinator to the esteemed South London conductor, Karen Gibson, also with previous royal connections, and her Kingdom Choir.
According to choir singer Celia Osuagwu, speaking to Elle, “The singers at the royal wedding were a mix of Kingdom Choir members and then hand-picked members from different parts of London and the UK … We’re like the supergroup for the royal wedding.” It’s no surprise their wedding performance was so stunning!
Formed in 1993, The Kingdom Choir has devoted itself to charity work as much as music. They’ve organized workshops with disadvantaged youths, the elderly, offenders, schools, performed in front of Bill Clinton and Nelson Mandela during their London visits, and have raised money in connection to Christian Aid.
But the nationwide buzz which followed the choir’s majestic, history-making, and barrier-breaking performance of “Stand By Me” is what led to the Kingdom Choir finally signing their first record deal with Sony Music, just one month after the Royal Wedding, with their first and only studio album being released later that same year.
While Harry and Meghan later claimed to Time magazine they were “driven from the royal family because of racism,” in their shock 2021 allegations, Kingdom Choir conductor Karen Gibson was shortly described as “Britain’s godmother of gospel” by The Guardian just one week after the wedding hit TV screens.
Karen revealed to The Guardian why she believes gospel music was the ultimate match for a modern royal wedding, leaving such a lasting impact on wedding-watchers: “Whether you’re a Christian or not, it does something for your spirit. I believe that when you’re singing, the sound comes out and the words go in and if they’re words of joy then they’re going to cause joy. They’re going to bring joy, they’re going to bring peace and healing. They’re going to bring hope. It’s not scientifically tested but I keep seeing the same thing.”
