The DDMA has directed all the district magistrates and DCPs to ensure that no cultural events, gatherings or congregations take place for celebrating Christmas or New Year in the National Capital Territory (NCT) of Delhi.

As many as 213 cases of Omicron have been detected across India so far, with Delhi recording 57 cases, the highest among all states and UTs, followed by Maharashtra (54), Telangana (24), Karnataka (19), Rajasthan (18), Kerala (15) and Gujarat (14).

Amid the growing Omicron cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will on Thursday hold a review meeting on the Covid related situation in the country.

Meanwhile, the Centre has said that the new Covid variant Omicron is three times more transmissible than the Delta variant.

The Centre has asked the states to review the emerging data of Covid-19 affected population, geographical spread, hospital infrastructure and its utilisation, manpower, notifying Containment Zones and the enforcement of perimeter of containment zones at the district levels. The Centre has also asked the states to formulate a strategy that can ensure infection is contained at the local level itself before it spreads to other parts.

Amid the Omicron threat, the states have been asked to ‘activate war rooms and keep analysing all trends and surges, no matter how small and keep taking proactive measures at the district or local level’.

“The Critics Choice Association is working with LA County Public Health Officials and a premiere Covid Compliance service, and at this time, we are currently still planning to host an in-person 27th Annual Critics Choice Awards, following the strictest and safest protocols, including mandatory proof of vaccination, negative PCR tests 48 hours in advance, proper social distancing and masking requirements,” the org said in a statement on Monday.

“We will continue to carefully monitor the situation as events progress.”

Last year, the Critics Choice Awards unfolded as a hybrid show with both in-person and virtual appearances. Host Taye Diggs and some of the presenters broadcast from a stage in Los Angeles, while nominees appeared remotely from various locations around the world.

The Critics Choice Awards is considered a major precursor to the Academy Awards and one of the first major film awards shows of the new year.

The Palm Springs Film Awards has also cancelled its upcoming ceremony for January 6 due to concerns over rising Covid-19 cases.

Kenneth Branagh’s ‘Belfast’ and Steven Spielberg’s ‘West Side Story’ led the field for this year’s crop of nominations for the Critics Choice Awards. ‘West Side Story’ landed nods for best picture and best director, while Ariana Debose and Rita Moreno nabbed nominations for best supporting actress and newcomer Rachel Zegler is up for best young actor or actress.

‘West Side Story’ also landed nominations for its ensemble and nods for its screenplay, costume design, production design, editing and cinematography.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been 20 years since the first “Harry Potter” film graced the big screen. But two decades, eight films, two spinoff movies and a theater play later, the original stars are reuniting.

The magical trio — Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson and Rupert Grint — are coming together for the “Harry Potter 20th Anniversary: Return to Hogwarts” retrospective special on HBO Max.

But it looks like one VIP doesn’t seem to be joining them: the creator of the Wizarding World herself and author of the famed Hogwarts universe, J.K. Rowling, who made some controversial comments about the trans community last year.

The Post reached out to Rowling’s reps for comment.

Other stars set to join the three actors include director Chris Columbus, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane, Ralph Fiennes, Jason Isaacs, Gary Oldman, Imelda Staunton, Tom Felton, James Phelps, Oliver Phelps, Mark Williams, Bonnie Wright, Alfred Enoch, Matthew Lewis, Evanna Lynch and Ian Hart.

The special will hit HBO Max on New Year’s Day 2022. The episode will also drop on TBS and Cartoon Network in spring 2022 ahead of the release of the franchise’s third spinoff, “Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore.”

A one-minute teaser was released Tuesday, announcing the reunion and featuring highlight clips from across the eight films. The franchise began in 2001 with “Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone” and ended a decade later with “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 2.”

“It has been an incredible journey since the debut of the ‘Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone’ film, and witnessing how it has evolved into this remarkable interconnected universe has been magical to say the least,” Tom Ascheim, president of Warner Bros. Global Kids, Young Adults and Classics said in a statement. 

He continued, “This retrospective is a tribute to everyone whose lives were touched by this cultural phenomenon — from the talented cast and crew who poured their heart and soul into this extraordinary film franchise to the passionate fans who continue to keep the Wizarding World spirit alive 20 years later.”

“There’s magic in the air here with this incredible cast, as they all return home to the original sets of Hogwarts, where they began 20 years ago. The excitement is palpable as they prepare to take their fans on a very special and personal journey, through the making of these incredible films,” executive producer Casey Patterson said.

On Tuesday, Watson, 31, shared a throwback photo of herself standing with Grint, 33, and Radcliffe, 32, when they were kids back in the early 2000s. She looked back on her time starring as Hermione Granger and expressed her excitement for the reunion.

“‘Harry Potter’ was my home, my family, my world and Hermione (still is) my favorite fictional character of all time. I think a journalist once said it was irritating how many times during an interview I mentioned how lucky I was and started counting… BUT I DAMN WELL KNEW!!! And still know,” the Brown University grad penned.

“I am proud not just of what we as group contributed as actors to the franchise but also as the children that became young adults that walked that path. I look at my fellow cast members now and I am just so proud of who everyone has become as people. I am proud we were kind to each other that we supported one another and that we held up something meaningful,” she continued. “Happy 20th Anniversary Potterheads!”

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With Omicron becoming the dominant variant of Covid in the US, accounting for over 73 per cent cases, new modeling data shows that the highly transmissible new strain will cause 140 million new infections from January to March, infecting 60 per cent of all Americans, the majority of which will be asymptomatic cases.

According to researchers at the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington, while infection will surge, it will have fewer hospitalisations and deaths compared to the Delta variant, USA Today reported.

The findings showed that the Covid cases may peak in late-January at about 2.8 million new daily infections.

“We are expecting an enormous surge in infections … so, an enormous spread of omicron,” IHME director Dr Chris Murray was quoted as saying.

“Total infections in the US we forecast are going from about 40 per cent of the US having been infected so far, to having in the next 2 to 3 months, 60 per cent of the US getting infected with Omicron,” he added.

While meta-analyses have suggested previous variants cause about 40 per cent of cases to be asymptomatic, Murray said more than 90 per cent of people infected with omicron may never show symptoms.

As a result, only about 400,000 cases may be reported, as most Americans infected with the virus won’t feel sick and may never get tested, the report said.

At the peak of last year’s winter surge in January, the country was reporting a little over 250,000 new cases per day. The country has reported about 51 million confirmed cases since the pandemic began, according to Johns Hopkins data.

On the other hand, the world may see approximately 3 billion new infections in the next two months with peak transmission occurring in mid-January at more than 35 million new cases per day, the models showed.

Murray noted that the forecast may be pessimistic, but other health experts say it is within the realm of possibility based on the early, incomplete information on Omicron.

“Sure, this a potential outcome,” Julie Swann, professor at North Carolina State University who studies pandemic modeling and health systems was quoted as saying. “How certain am I that this is the outcome? Not certain at all.”

While infections are expected to skyrocket, the IHME model shows hospitalisations and deaths will be about the same. Researchers found the infection-hospitalisation rate of Omicron is about 90 per cent to 96 per cent lower than delta, and the infection-fatality rate is about 97 per cent to 99 per cent lower.

“In the past, we roughly thought that Covid was 10 times worse than flu and now we have a variant that is probably at least 10 times less severe,” Murray said. “So, Omicron will probably a be less severe than flu but much more transmissible.”

“Of course, there’s this deep kernel of truth he never lets get exposed. And that ties into the breadth of fear and fury that we know he has.

“But he can also stand behind his back and survey all these scenes with a sort of calm acceptance and knowing. And not be taken in with the hoopla of worrying about what the ranch-hands think of him. He’s very self-assured. I admired that.”

Cumberbatch had to learn how to play the banjo for his role in the movie, which has been nominated for seven Golden Globes, and said he will continue using the instrument for personal pleasure, reports femalefirst.co.uk.

“There’s no question that this current rash of breakthrough cases is concerning, but the industry has not shut down,” said Charlotte St. Martin, the League’s president. “I’m knocking on wood so much I have bruised knuckles, but so far we’re still open, and a two- or three-day shutdown, now and then, I think is to be expected.”

Fans have been upset, frustrated, rattled, but also understanding.

“I’m not insane — of course they’re going to cancel a show if someone has Covid,” said Karleigh Kebartas, a 21-year-old psychology student at Pace University, who had a ticket to the canceled Saturday matinee of “Little Shop,” “but it’s disappointing.” Ms. Kebartas was already at the theater when the show was canceled — in fact, much of the audience was held in the lobby until several minutes after the scheduled start time, when an announcement was made with no explanation of the reason. But Ms. Kebartas got lucky — on Tuesday, she was able to buy another ticket to that night’s performance, enabling her to catch the show’s star, Jeremy Jordan, before heading home to Massachusetts for the holidays.

The closings began almost as soon as Broadway reopened. On Sept. 28, the Disney musical “Aladdin” resumed performances at the New Amsterdam Theater; the next day, the show canceled a performance, citing breakthrough cases, and then, after another performance, it detected more cases and took a 12-day pause.

Since that time, there have been a handful of closings at other shows — the lengthy shutdown at “Chicken Biscuits,” and shorter Covid-related shutdowns at “Chicago,” which went dark for a five-day stretch last month, and “Wicked,” which lost a weekend early this month. And it’s not just theater: The acclaimed Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater canceled its performances Wednesday and Thursday, citing positive coronavirus tests.

Plus there have been additional cancellations of “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child” and “American Utopia” that the producers said were not Covid-related.

The Duchess of Cambridge gave millions of Britons a Christmas treat on TV tonight as she played the piano to accompany singer Tom Walker with a poignant song performed by candlelight at Westminster Abbey.

Kate, who has tickled the ivories since she was a child, recorded the song with Walker in the Chapter House of the Abbey, one day before a community carol service on December 8 which was shown on ITV this evening.

They played his Christmas single ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ together, after the Duchess had the idea for the performance following a meeting with Walker when she heard him play at a charity function in October. 

At that event for The Forward Trust, a London-based charity that helps people with drug and alcohol dependence, Walker played ‘Leave a Light On’ – a song about the struggles of those experiencing addiction.

And the 30-year-old singer was then approached to play for the carol service, with Kate, 39, having come up with the idea of accompanying him on the piano after music brought ‘great comfort’ to her during the lockdowns.

The Duchess was said to be ‘quite nervous’ during her first rehearsal ‘because she hadn’t played with another musician in a very long time’, reported Mirror Online. 

Walker said the pair had to sit on opposite sides of the room to practice the emotional performance due to Covid. 

He told MailOnline the whole plan was ‘very, very secret’, adding that they were both scared of messing it up.  

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Walker praised Kate (pictured playing the piano during Friday’s aired ITV performance) for being an ‘amazing musician’ and said that although she was quite nervous when they first rehearsed in a studio, she went away and ‘invested a lot of time and energy into getting it right’

Kate plays the grand piano while Tom Walker sings his emotional Christmas single For Those Who Can’t Be Here, which aired on ITV on Christmas Eve

Kate (seen far left) and Tom Walker (centre) gave an emotional performance by candlelight at Westminster Abbey

Walker gave the Duchess a backing track to practise with before the performance and said he was ‘shocked at how much better she was’ when it came to the actual show, which left him ‘really impressed.’

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While Kate has played the piano since childhood, the type she was practicing on, which would be the same one used in the performance, was different to hers at home, so she had to get used to it, revealed Walker.  

He said: ‘We rehearsed the song like nine times and by the end of it she’d absolutely nailed it, and then she went away for a couple of days and practised it, and then we finally got to do the recording of it.’ 

He added: ‘I think we were both really nervous that it wasn’t going to go quite to plan and one of us would let down the other person or whatever, but she was absolutely fabulous – she smashed it.’ 

The song was written by Walker for ‘anyone raising a glass around the table remembering those who can’t be with us’ this festive season – as hundreds of thousands of people are set to spend Christmas Day in self-isolation with Covid-19, while others think of members of their family and friends they have lost to the virus or other causes. 

Walker described the Duchess as a ‘lovely, kind and warm hearted person’ and praised her for having ‘absolutely smashed’ the performance, adding that it was a ‘crazy pinch yourself kind of day’ for him.

He also praised Kate for being an ‘amazing musician’ and said that although she was quite nervous when they first rehearsed in a studio, she went away and ‘invested a lot of time and energy into getting it right’.

Walker gave the Duchess a backing track to practise with before the performance and said he was ‘shocked at how much better she was’ when it came to the actual show, which left him ‘really impressed.’

Explaining that his mother had a ‘total freak out’, he said: ‘It was truly an honour playing alongside The Duchess for Royal Carols: Together At Christmas. Without doubt, it was a once in a lifetime experience.

‘I thought she absolutely smashed the performance; it’s not easy to just jump behind a piano with a bunch of musicians you’ve never played with before and record live takes to camera, but she completely nailed it. 

‘She’s such a lovely, kind and warm hearted person and she took the time to thank everyone personally for the opportunity to play together. 

Prince William also spoke during the service, taking to the lectern to read a verse from Luke 2: 1-7, from the Bible (pictured)

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William and Kate donned black face masks as they entered Westminster Abbey, with Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie spotted sitting in the row behind them, next to Kate’s sister Pippa

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge were seen talking to clergymen and attendees of the event, which was recorded on December 8 

Will and Kate greet the ‘special guests’ who were all invited to the service for having supported their communities during the pandemic

Leona Lewis gave a stunning performance of O Holy Night, while donning a stunning sparkling dark green gown

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Ellie Goulding also performed during the service, donning a satin full length dress complete with sheer long sleeves and heavy silver embellishing that scattered outwards from her waist. The British star sang Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

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Harry Potter star Tom Felton read the poignant poem A Letter From A Soldier To His Sister, from The Christmas Truce, by Aaron Shepherd (pictured)

Tom Felton, who played Draco Malfoy in the Potter film franchise, wore a dark coloured suit and white shirt as he read the heartfelt poem amid service men and women 

Kate Garraway gave a reading during the service, amid her husband Derek’s well publicised and ongoing battle with long Covid. The journalist and TV presenter read Love Came Down At Christmas, by Christina Rossetti 

Kate and William arrive to the iconic Westminster Abbey for the extra special carol service 

A group of carol singers gathered outside the Abbey as the guests entered

Carol singing children and teens don woolly hats and scarves as they welcomed guests to Westminster Abbey

The dozens of attendees were seen singing along to classic Christmas carols, pictured here lighting up their hymn sheets

The jaw-dropping Westminster Abbey, first established in the year 960, created a stunning backdrop for the service

The service opened with a choirboy singing Once In Royal David’s City (pictured) 

A group of choirboys joined in the opening hymn of Once In Royal David’s City, donning traditional red and white robes

The scene was set at Westminster Abbey, with a traditional nativity scene and Christmas trees (pictured)

Kate’s performance formed part of the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas event which was held by Kate as a thank you to the people who have supported their communities during the pandemic

Prince William and Kate smile at each other at ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey on December 8

Tom Walker performs his Christmas single ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ at the ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ service

Tom Walker plays his song ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ (left) and lights a candle (right) at the carol service on December 8

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• ‘Is there anything Kate CAN’T do?’  Duchess wows royal fans… The Queen will pay heartfelt tribute to her late husband in… Ellie Goulding stuns in an incredible embellished satin gown…

‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ by Tom Walker 

We put the lights up on the tree

And all the presents underneath

Light the fire it’s getting cold

Another year of will it snow

Mixing lager and champagne

Something I’ll never do again

Round the table banter flows

Praying no one rocks the boat

 

Still I know this picture’s not quite right

There’s someone on your mind

First Christmastime without him by your side, I know

The sound of Christmas bells

They never say farewell

So we laugh, we shed a tear

For those who can’t be here

 

We’re drinking sherry just because

Confessing all our Christmas love

Watch Home Alone for the thousandth time

It’s the only movie that we all like

 

But I know this picture’s not quite right

There’s someone on my mind

First Christmastime without him by our side, I know

He loved these Christmas bells

Because they never say farewell

So we laugh, we shed a tear

For those who can’t be here

 

For those who can’t be here

For those who can’t be here

(The bells ring out for them, for those who can’t be here)

(The bells ring out for them, for those who can’t be here)

(The bells ring out for them, for those who can’t be here)

(The bells ring out for them, for those who can’t be here)  

‘It was a crazy pinch yourself kind of day for me, to be in such a beautiful venue playing alongside The Duchess with my band and a string quartet.

‘I certainly won’t forget that in a hurry. My mum had a total freak out when she saw it on the telly. 

‘I know this song will resonate with a lot of people this Christmas and my heart goes out to anyone raising a glass around the table remembering those who can’t be with us.’

The performance formed part of the Royal Carols: Together At Christmas event which was held by Kate as a thank you to the people who have supported their communities during the pandemic. 

A royal source said: ‘The idea for the performance was the Duchess’. She was impressed by Tom when she met him and heard him play Leave a Light On – a song about the struggles of those experiencing addiction, an issue which as you know, she is passionate about – at a Forward Trust event in October.

‘He was approached to play at the service, and his Christmas song, For Those Who Can’t Be Here, which has such pertinence for so many this year, also struck a chord with the Duchess who came up with the idea of accompanying Tom on the piano. 

‘She has played the piano since she was a child.

‘Music was very important to the Duchess during the lockdowns and playing the piano brought great comfort to her. 

‘She also recognises the powerful way in which music brings people together – especially during difficult times. For these reasons, she was keen to be part of Tom’s performance in this way.’ 

The Duchess is set to spend the festive weekend with her husband Prince William and children Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis at their Norfolk residence of Anmer Hall.

Walker spoke to MailOnline earlier today, saying that he had just returning home to his family for Christmas with his fiancée Annie Watson-Foulds, with whom he has been quarantining with for nine days because she contracted Covid-19.

He said he tested himself daily and did not catch the virus from her, and after she had her second negative test in consecutive days yesterday, it meant they could travel in time to be with family on Christmas Day – and Walker admitted: ‘I’m so happy to be home with my family.’

Asked how the performance with Kate came about, he said: ‘I’ve met the Duchess a couple of times at various different charity events and the last one we did together was for Action on Addiction, and she gave a speech at that particular one and I sang my song Leave A Light On and performed it live.

‘Afterwards she got in touch with me and my team and said would you mind performing this live at the carol service? And I said absolutely no problem, but I’ve actually written a Christmas song this year that nobody’s heard yet, I’ll send it over, why don’t you listen to that because it might be more suitable for the service?

‘Anyway, she heard the song and absolutely loved it and asked if I could come down and perform that. And then about a week later, her team got in touch and said she was really keen to play the piano on the song.

‘I didn’t even know she played piano. I was a bit like this is crazy, but absolutely, that would be wicked. We arranged a rehearsal together. It was very secret, very secret – even the studio didn’t know what was going on. 

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge talk to Tom Walker, Ellie Goulding and Leona Lewis at the service on December 8

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge take part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey on December 8

William and Kate meet Tony Hudgell, seven, who suffered life changing injuries in 2014 when he was 41 days old following horrific abuse from his parents, Jody Simpson and Tony Smith. The pair were found guilty of child cruelty in 2018 and are both now serving a ten-year prison sentence. In 2017, Tony had both legs amputated due to the injuries he sustained as an infant

The Duke of Cambridge speaks to Kate Garraway before the carol service at Westminster Abbey on December 8

Kensington Palace released these photographs of Kate decorating a Christmas tree at Westminster Abbey earlier this month

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles while decorating a Christmas tree at Westminster Abbey in London earlier this month

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and the Countess of Wessex taking part in the Westminster Abbey service

(Front, from left) The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, the Countess of Wessex, and Zara and Mike Tindall at the service. Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie stand behind William and Kate, while Pippa Matthews and James Middleton can also be seen

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge smile as they take part in the Christmas carol service at Westminster Abbey in London

The Duchess of Cambridge smiles in a trailer video for the ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ service shown on ITV

Sophie, Countess of Wessex, with Zara and Mike Tindall taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ in London

Princess Beatrice and Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi at Westminster Abbey in London for the Christmas service on December 8

‘We were sitting on opposite sides of the room for Covid, rehearsing. We rehearsed the song like nine times and by the end of it she’d absolutely nailed it, and then she went away for a couple of days and practised it, and then we finally got to do the recording of it.

Heartbreaking ordeal of boy who charmed Kate and William at carol service: Tony Hudgell, 7, lost his legs after being abused by his birth parents – who escaped jail until his adoptive family fought for justice 

A young amputee charmed Kate Middleton and Prince William as they made time during their festive carol concert earlier this month to ‘spend ages’ chatting with Tony Hudgell, 7, and his mother. 

Tony was rushed to hospital with life changing injuries in 2014 when he was 41-days-old, following horrific abuse from his parents, Jody Simpson and Tony Smith. The pair were found guilty of child cruelty in 2018 and are both currently serving a ten-year prison sentence.  

In 2017, Tony had both legs amputated due to the injuries he sustained as an infant, and he’s currently learning to walk on prosthetic legs without crutches.  

Tony Hudgell, aged seven, meets the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge at the Westminster Abbey concert on December 8

After his incredibly difficult start in life, Tony was adopted by Paula and Mark Hudgell of West Malling, Kent, who have successfully campaigned for longer sentences for anyone who seriously harms a child, and are now calling for a register of abusers in the wake of the murder of Arthur Labinjo-Hughes.

His proud parents were by his side as the youngster met Kate and William at the service, and later tweeted: ‘Tony has no idea of the impact or enormity he holds. The Duke Duchess of Cambridge were truly incredible with him. They chatted to us both for ages. A truly magical evening.’

Tony’s legs were broken in eight different places due to the cruel abuse he suffered at the ends of his parents as an infant 

A sweet image shows William and Kate crouching down to Tony’s eye level to chat to the youngster while his proud mother Paula looked on.  

The invite to the concert came after Kate was impressed by Tony’s charity efforts in 2020, when he raised more than £1.5 million for Evelina London Children’s Hospital, of which she is an official patron. 

‘And I was really impressed because it’s one thing playing along with me in a studio, just the two of us, but then to jump straight in to playing with a live string quartet and a pianist and two backing singers, all of which she’d never met before, and then doing live takes in front of the camera – that’s a whole other jump from jamming.

‘She absolutely nailed it and I was so surprised at how great she was at keeping time, because she had to start the song off and lead it. Amazing musician and what an amazing day, it was crazy.’

Walker added that when he has been at events with Kate before it had been at a ‘charity event that the royals are backing, so I’m kind of in their space and their domain’.

But he continued: ‘With the music side of it, we’re kind of on even terms here because you’ve never played with other musicians for the last ten years, and then jumping straight into this. And then obviously I’m doing the carol service.

‘So I think we were both really nervous that it wasn’t going to go quite to plan and one of us would let down the other person or whatever, but she was absolutely fabulous – she smashed it.

‘What a talented, kind, warm-hearted, lovely person. She’s very chilled, very nice and she was so kind to everybody who was there – personally introduced herself to the whole band. It was just lovely. A big moment for me in my career.’

Asked about the song, Walker explained: ‘Well very sadly in the first pandemic we lost my grandfather. It was really tough, because we couldn’t get up to see him, we couldn’t be by his side, we didn’t get to say goodbye.

‘It was tough for the whole family but it was especially tough for my mum because it was her dad. And the whole basis of the song is every year around the table my grandmother will raise a glass and say ‘this is for those who can’t be here this year, let’s take a little moment to remember them’.

‘And I was just thinking about how that moment was going to be for my mum for the very first time around the dinner table at Christmas without her dad, because he came every year for Christmas without fail. So that’s what the whole song’s about.’

He was also asked about whether Kate had spoken about Prince Philip, given the Queen is spending her first Christmas as a widow after her beloved husband died aged 99 in April.

Walker said: ‘The Duchess didn’t specifically say. She said she loved the lyrics – but she didn’t lead onto it being about that, but I think just everybody has lost somebody in their lives at some point and Christmas is the time to remember people who aren’t around who you used to have really fond memories of and still do, but you can’t reminisce with them in person. So I think that’s why she connected with the lyrics.’

Speaking about what Kate was like to be around, he continued: ‘She was just so nice. I think the first rehearsal we did she was quite nervous because she hadn’t played with another musician in a very long time and she’s got a piano at home but the one that we’d rented in for the day was going to be the same one we were using for the actual service.

‘It was completely different to hers, so she was trying to get the feel for that. She’s just lovely, really chilled out, very nice, seems really approachable and just really lovely. I was very nervous for the first five to ten minutes but I was all good after that.’

And as for the rehearsals, Walker said they spent about 90 minutes together and ran through the song nine times, adding it was ‘socially distanced of course, we made sure all the measures were followed where they could be’.

He continued: ‘And we just rehearsed it until she was like, right, I think I’ve kind of got it now. And I was like, well look, I tell you what we’ll send you a backing track that’s like the song but without the piano and a click track, and you can just play along to that and see how you get on.

‘When she turned up for the actual performance, you could really tell she’d gone to town practising because I was shocked at how much better she was. She really invested a lot of time and energy into getting it right and making sure that it was good, so I was really impressed – great musician.’

Asked if she mentioned about doing more music in the future, Walker joked: ‘Well, we’re working on the album! No, she didn’t mention anything else about that, but I never thought I’d get a chance to play with a member of the Royal Family, so whatever comes after this I don’t think I’ll be too surprised. I’ll be opening up for her soon!’

Kensington Palace had released a teaser video on Instagram today of Kate walking up to a piano before taking a seat and beginning to play, although the clip was uploaded without any sound. 

Singer Leona Lewis performs during the Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey in London on December 8

Leona Lewis sings during the Christmas carol service held at Westminster Abbey in London on December 8

Mila Sneddon, six, standing at the crib during ‘Royal Carols – Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey on December 8

Kate Garraway gives a reading during ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ which is being held at Westminster Abbey

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Choristers from the Westminster Abbey Choir take part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ on December 8

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The Countess of Wessex meets a reindeer as she leaves the Together At Christmas community carol service on December 8

Mila Sneddon, six, watched by her mother, Lynda, lighting a candle at the crib during the service at Westminster Abbey

Members of the congregation light a candle at the crib during ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ on December 8

A chorister taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ which was held at Westminster Abbey on December 8

The Queen’s Piper playing by the Tomb of the Unknown Warrior during the ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ service

Choristers from the Westminster Abbey Choir taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ on December 8

A young member of the congregation taking part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey

Poet Lemn Sissay performing ‘To The Day’, a poem created for the Westminster Abbey carol service on December 8

Members of the congregation take part in ‘Royal Carols: Together At Christmas’ at Westminster Abbey on December 8

Alongside the piano and musical note emoji, it read: ‘Tonight. @ITV. 7:30pm. #TogetherAtChristmas.’ 

Ellie Goulding stuns in an incredible embellished satin gown and feathered cape ahead of her performance at service

She will be performing on the Royal Carols Together At Christmas. 

And Ellie Goulding, 34, looked stunning in a white gown ahead of the Westminster Abbey concert, which will be broadcast tonight on ITV. 

Goulding donned a satin full length dress complete sheer long sleeves and heavy silver embellishing that scattered outwards from her waist.  

llie Goulding, 34, stuns in a satin embellished gown and feathered cape ahead of her performance for the concert

She added a dramatic feather trimmed cape with structured shoulders that created a small train behind her. 

Her bright blonde locks were styles loose as she opted for a simple makeup palette with a pink lip for her performance. 

Taking to Instagram, the singer penned: ‘Honoured to perform for the Duke Duchess, one of my favourite songs for Christmas.’ 

Kate gained her grade three piano and grade five theory and she was given lessons by Daniel Nicholls until she was 13, but has never performed at a major public event such as this.

Mr Nicholls taught the Duchess to play the piano along with her mother Carole, sister Pippa, and brother James.

Ahead of her wedding to William in 2011, Mr Nicholls told the BBC: ‘Kate came for lessons when she was about 10 or 11, until she was 13, about 1993 to 95.

‘She was absolutely lovely, a really delightful person to teach the piano. 

‘I actually taught the whole family except Mike – Carole, Pippa and James, and again they were just absolutely lovely people, normal piano pupils.’

He added at the time: ‘I don’t think anyone would say she was going to be a concert pianist, but she was good at it, she always did everything she was told.’ 

After learning piano, Kate also turned to flute, which she played until the age of 18 in the school’s orchestra.

She was also in a senior flute group called Tootie-Flooties with her sister Pippa.

In a recorded introduction to the service, Kate paid tribute to the ‘inspirational’ people who have served their communities during the ‘bleak time’ of the pandemic.

Kate said: ‘We wanted to say a huge thank you to all those amazing people out there who have supported their communities.

‘We also wanted to recognise those whose struggles perhaps have been less visible too.’ 

The Duchess said the country had been through ‘such a bleak time’ and had faced ‘many challenges’, including the loss of loved ones, while frontline workers had been under ‘immense pressure’.

She added that while people had been ‘more emotionally and socially distanced and isolated from each other’, this separation had helped people to realise ‘how much we need each other’ and the importance of acts of kindness.

The service was attended by those Kate and William had spent time with during recent engagements.

Also in attendance were members of the armed forces involved in Operation Pitting to evacuate British nationals and eligible Afghans from Afghanistan.

Others at the service were young carers, faith leaders and those who may have been more vulnerable or isolated during the pandemic.

The service includes music from the Westminster Abbey choir, and singers Leona Lewis and Ellie Goulding.

The Duke of Cambridge, British Paralympian and junior doctor Kim Daybell, actor Tom Felton and presenter Kate Garraway all gave readings.

There was also a performance of To The Day, a special piece created for the service by poet and writer Lemn Sissay.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are pictured arriving for for the service at Westminster Abbey on December 8

OCTOBER — (From left) The Duchess of Cambridge meets TV presenters Ant McPartlin and Declan Donnelly, and musician Tom Walker at the launch of the Forward Trust’s Taking Action on Addiction campaign at BAFTA in London on October 19, 2021. It was at this event that Kate met Walker before he was later approached to take part in the Westminster Abbey service

The carol service was developed with BBC Studios Events Productions but broadcast on ITV.

William and Kate reportedly dropped the BBC as the broadcaster for their Christmas special in the wake of the two-part series The Princes and the Press, which was criticised by the Queen, Prince Charles and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge for giving credibility to ‘overblown and unfounded claims’ about the Royal Family.

Kate and William were joined at the service by a host of other royals, including Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi , Princess Eugenie, and Zara and Mike Tindall.

The Duchess’ parents Carole and Michael Middleton, as well as her siblings James and Pippa, were also in attendance.

Royal Carols: Together At Christmas aired on ITV from 7.30pm tonight and will be available on the ITV Hub

Kate leaves viewers ‘speechless’ with ‘touching’ piano performance at Westminster Abbey service – and fans say she is ‘just like Diana’ after late royal surprised guests in 1988 with her musical talents 

Kate Middleton has left viewers ‘speechless’ with her ‘touching and mesmerising’ piano performance at her Westminster Abbey carol concert after it aired on TV last night.

The Duchess of Cambridge, 39, stunned onlookers as she played the piano to accompany singer Tom Walker with a poignant song performed by candlelight at the service in London, which was a royal family affair.

Kate, who has tickled the ivories since she was a child, recorded the song with Walker in the Chapter House of the Abbey, one day before a community carol service on December 8 which was shown on ITV yesterday evening. 

They played his Christmas single ‘For Those Who Can’t Be Here’ together – and despite the Duchess reportedly feeling ‘quite nervous’, fans rushed to Twitter to praise her performance.

Others noted how Kate seemingly channelled her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, who surprised onlookers in 1988 in Australia with her own piano performance. 

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Kate Middleton (pictured) has left viewers ‘speechless’ with her ‘touching and mesmerising’ piano performance at her Westminster Abbey carol concert after it aired on TV last night

Some royal fans noted how Kate seemingly channelled her late mother-in-law Princess Diana, who surprised onlookers in 1988 in Australia with her own piano performance (pictured)

Despite Kate reportedly feeling ‘quite nervous’, fans rushed to Twitter to praise her performance  (above)

During Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s visit to Melbourne on their 1988 royal tour of Australia, they visited Melbourne College of Arts. 

When there, the princess delighted well-wishers by playing part of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, apparently without any sheet music. 

It was Diana’s second royal tour of Australia, taking place five months after her first visit, which was recently fictionalised on Netflix’s The Crown.  

The news footage of the moment shows Prince Charles and Princess Diana walking into a rehearsal room where musicians are playing in a semi-circle. 

Charles is cajoled into playing the cello by Professor Henri Touzeau, his former music tutor who later worked in Australia. 

The prince obligingly plays a few notes before putting down the bow. The professor then turns his attention to the princess, who is stylishly dressed in a white and navy suit and matching wide-brimmed hat.

 

 Reaction: Some fans pointed out the similarities between Kate and Diana’s piano performance

During Prince Charles and Princess Diana’s visit to Melbourne on their 1988 royal tour of Australia, they visited Melbourne College of Arts. When there, the princess delighted well-wishers by playing part of Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2, apparently without any sheet music (pictured)

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After some initial hesitation, Princess Diana takes a seat at the piano and begins to play the concerto, which the newsreader describes as ‘complicated’.

Princess Diana was an accomplished musician and started playing piano as a young girl.

She took after her maternal grandmother, Ruth Boche, Baroness Fermoy, who was a talented pianist and studied with Alfred Cortot at the Paris Conservatoire in the 1920s.

One fan noted of Kate and Diana’s performances: ‘She is just like Princess Diana, she played the piano too, and quite well in fact.’

Another said: ‘Princess Diana played the piano good too! How lovely the Duchess shares same gift. It’s been wonderful seeing all her talents, from photography to beekeeping and now the piano.’

Kate plays the grand piano while Tom Walker sings his emotional Christmas single For Those Who Can’t Be Here, which aired on ITV on Christmas Eve

Reaction: Meanwhile, viewers were full of praise for the Duchess of Cambridge following her performance, with one saying: ”Such a beautiful and moving performance.’

Meanwhile, viewers were full of praise for the Duchess of Cambridge following her performance, with one saying: ”Such a beautiful and moving performance.’

Another said: ‘This is absolutely gorgeous and Kate on the piano for Tom Walker?? Absolute magic.’

A third added: ‘Oh my… Catherine is playing the piano. Even the cat froze, it just wasn’t sure if it was safe to continue noisily attacking the tree! 

A fourth said: ‘This song, and having Duchess Kate play the piano, was so touching for anyone who lost someone recently or not. The Holidays always make you remember them. Thank you!’

 

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Thursday chargesheeted four Khalistan Tiger Force Operative in connection with the case of targeted killing of ‘Dera Saccha Sauda’ follower Manohar Lal.

The chargesheet was filed before a special NIA court in Mohali under sections 120B, 109, 201 and 302 of IPC, sections 16, 17, 18, 18B, 20 and 23 of Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, and section 25 (1A), 25 (6), 25 (7) and 27 Arms Act against.

Those who are chargesheeted by NIA are Kamaljeet Sharma alias Kamal, Ram Singh alias Sona, Arshdeep Singh alias Arsh and Hardeep Singh Nijjar. The NIA officials said that Nijjar and Arsh are presently living in Canada.

The evergreen movies like “Odayil Ninnu”, “Anubhavangal Palichakal”, “Oppol”, “Aranazhikaneeram”, “Achanum Bappayum” and so on, which are considered landmark films Malayalam, were the contributions of Sethumadhavan.

Born in 1931 in northern Palakkad district of Kerala, he entered into tinsel town as an assistant director to K Ramnath.

After launching himself as an independent filmmaker through the Sinhalese movie “Veeravijaya” (1960), he directed his first Malayalam film “Jnana Sundari”.

It was Sethumadhavan who introduced iconic Kamal Haasan as a child actor in Malayalam through the move “Kannum Karalum” and in the lead role through his film “Kanyakumari”.