Concert for Diana - singing, dancing and a job offer from Simon Cowell
Filed under: Celebrity News, News | By: Lucy
Posted on: July 2, 2007 | 3 Comments
Princes William and Harry put on a fabulous memorial concert for their late mother Diana yesterday. The 6 hour long show was packed to the brim with Diana’s favorite artists and those who William and Harry knew she would enjoy had she been around today.
In front of the 63,000-strong crowd at the amazing London Wembley Stadium Prince William and Harry said that the concert was “the most perfect way of remembering her” and their end speech, along with the slideshow of Diana as a child reduced the entire audience to tears.
Diana tragically died in a Paris car crash in 1997 and the gig marked the life of Diana who would have still been as beautiful and as graceful at the age of 46 and she was before she died.
Sir Elton John, a close friend of Diana’s, opened the show with ‘Your Song’. After Elton followed amazing sets by Duran Duran, Brian Ferry, The Feeling, Joss Stone, Fergie, Tom Jones, Lilly Allen.
James Morrison, Natasha Bedingfield, Kayne West, Nelly Furtado, P Diddy, Orson, Rod Stewart, Pharell Williams, Status Quo, Will Young, Wix Wickens, Roger Hodgson of Supertramp and Take That.
There were also breathtaking performances for the English National Ballet and a medley of Diana’s favorite musicals courtesy of Andrew Lloyd Webber.
At the end of the show Sir Elton returned, only after Ricky Gervais’ hilarious fill in while production sorted out a technical fault, to play a further two songs, finishing with ‘Are you ready for love?’
Between the musical acts, videos were shown of Diana’s charity work (which the proceeds of the concert are going to) and of the people who’s lives she had touched. We also got to see Princes William and Harry’s charity work, which showed the audience that Diana lives on through the two princes.
Nelson Mandela and Tony Blair gave their thoughts on Diana via video, with Mandela praising Diana’s “energy, courage and selfless commitment” as he urged the crowd to “support the work that continues in her name”. Tony Blair said, “I think that in William and Harry, the qualities that made Diana special live on.”
The concert was a huge success and allowed the world an insight into Diana’s world, which revolved around the love she had for her charity work, but most importantly her two boys.
Many feared how the princes would cope with reliving the memories of Diana, but they did exceptionally well and allowed themselves to joke and dance and, most importantly, celebrate their mothers life.
The two even made jokes, at Ricky Gervais’ expense! “When William and I first had the idea, we forgot we would end up standing here desperately trying to think of something funny to say.
“We’ll leave that to the funny people - and Ricky Gervais.”
The star studded concert also included introductions from the likes of Simon Cowell who praised William and Harry, “You’ve put on one heck of a show,” he told them then joked, “In years to come, if you ever get tired of running the country, you can come and work for me producing TV shows”.
The highlight for many people was the fact that we saw the Princes relaxed and happy, dancing along to their favorite songs and we often saw them joking with each other. Personally I loved the footage of the two boys, after Simon had asked for a big round of applause for the boys, where Harry was clapping and William leant over and said, “You’re clapping yourself!”
It truly was an amazing show and we have to thank William and Harry for letting us remember and celebrate their mother’s life with them. The Princes left us with this final speech,
“Thank you to all of you who have come here tonight to celebrate our mother’s life,” Prince William said.
“For us this has been the most perfect way to remember her, and this is how she would want to be remembered.”
Prince William, 25, added that he hoped the show had raised “enough money to make a difference”.
What did you think of the concert? What are your memories of Diana? Let us know your thoughts by leaving a comment below.
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The concert was fabulous. What a great show to watch while we celebrated Canada Day. Do you know where I might get a copy of the show to watch again?
The concert was terrific!!! Can’t say enough good things about the tremendous job the princes did in honoring the memory of their beautiful mother. The only critical thing I can say is that Ricky Gervais was a poor choice in comedians. He wasn’t very funny or entertaining. I understand that he was flustered by having to ad lib while they pulled together Elton’s routine, but come on, Gervais is supposed to be professional entertainer.
We only got one hour of this concert in the US. I was so disspointed that we were not offered the six hours or at least half of the show. Looked like a great tribute to a great Princess.