Katherine Jenkins described Queen Elizabeth as “very motherly,” recalling her many encounters with the late royal family before her death last week.
The singer, 42, was selected to record BBC Radio 4’s first recording of God Save The King on Friday from a rural church in Sussex.
The words of the British national anthem have changed from ‘Queen’ to ‘King’ in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday, as her son King Charles III now ascends the throne.
Reflective: Katherine Jenkins described Queen Elizabeth as “very motherly,” as she recalled her many encounters with the late royal before her death last week (pictured together in 2009)
Katherine described singing the anthem as “very emotional,” while reminiscing about singing the song for the Queen before.
In conversation with De Telegraaf she said: ‘[The process was] very emotional, especially as I have so many fond memories of singing to Her Majesty over the years and realizing that that won’t happen again.’
Katherine was recording in a small church in a remote area of Sussex when she received the call from the BBC.
Honour: The singer, 42, was selected to record BBC Radio 4’s first recording of God Save The King on Friday from a rural church in Sussex (pictured in 2017)
The opera singer had a moment of silence and prayer before recording the song, singing from the heart in this incredibly emotional time.
The anthem closed the extensive World at One program on BBC Radio 4 on Friday afternoon.
Elsewhere in the chat, Katherine described her admiration for the Queen, having met her many times over the years, having first sang to her when she was in her early twenties.
She said: ‘The more I met her, the more I learned about her work ethic, her faith, and her dedication to the country and the Commonwealth. I think that made it more difficult to sing because I would be even more nervous because I admired her so much.’
‘Emotional’: Katherine described singing the anthem as ‘very emotional’, while reminiscing about singing the song before the Queen (pictured in 2017)
She described her impressions of Her Majesty and said: ‘She always felt very motherly. And I think she understood very well how people could have feelings. She read situations very well, and I think that’s a gift in itself. She also had a great sense of humor in a really quick way. I definitely remember those one-liners. You’d come away and think, “That was brilliant.”‘
Katherine has sung the national anthem many times and said Friday that she will always “cherish” her memories of singing to the Queen.
She said: ‘I have only the best memories of singing the national anthem to Her Majesty the Queen, memories that I will always cherish.
Long live the king: The words of Britain’s national anthem have changed from ‘queen’ to ‘king’ in the wake of Queen Elizabeth II’s death on Thursday, as her son King Charles III now ascends the throne
‘While my heart is heavy with sorrow; It is a huge honor to sing this for the first time today and it was sung with the conviction that the reign of King Charles III will be happy and glorious!’
Writing a heartfelt tribute to the Queen on Thursday, Katherine wrote on Instagram: “On this heartbreaking day, my thoughts, prayers and deepest condolences are with King Charles, the Royal Family and with my fellow British and Commonwealth members around the world.
“Your Majesty, thank you for everything you’ve given. You have been a selfless constant in our lives, you know exactly what to say in our darkest hours.
Katherine said: ‘Singing this today, for the first time, is a tremendous honor and was sung with the conviction that the reign of King Charles III will be happy and glorious!’
“You have inspired us with your dignity, your duty and your grace. I am proud to have lived during your reign, honored to have sung for you and privileged to have known you. Rest in peace and rise in glory ma’am.’
The Queen’s son, Charles, the former Prince of Wales, is now King Charles III as the world mourns his mother, Britain’s longest reigning monarch.
All of Her Majesty’s children had been rushed to Balmoral on Thursday after doctors became ‘concerned’ about her health. Hours later, she died surrounded by her family.
Her death was confirmed at 6:30 p.m. Thursday. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: ‘The Queen passed away peacefully this afternoon in Balmoral. The King and The Queen Consort remain in Balmoral tonight and return to London tomorrow.”
Heartbreaking: All Her Majesty’s children had rushed to Balmoral on Thursday after doctors became ‘concerned’ about her health. Hours later she died surrounded by her family
With the death of the Queen, Britain and her Commonwealth realms will enter a ten-day period of mourning as millions of her subjects in the UK and abroad come to terms with her passing.
If her son takes the throne, there will also be a celebration of her historic 70th reign, which saw her reach her platinum jubilee this year – a milestone unlikely to be reached again by a British monarch.
Charles, the king, said: ‘The death of my beloved mother, Her Majesty the Queen, is a moment of the greatest sorrow for me and all members of my family.
“We deeply mourn the passing of a beloved sovereign and dearly beloved mother. I know her loss will be deeply felt throughout the country, the rich and the Commonwealth, and by countless people around the world.
“During this period of grief and change, my family and I will be comforted and sustained by our knowledge of the respect and deep affection in which the Queen was held so widely.”
Mourning: The Queen’s death will set Britain and her Commonwealth realms into a ten-day period of mourning as millions of her subjects in the UK and abroad come to terms with her passing