Harris Primary Academy Beckenham pupils will perform as part of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant
(Picture: Handout)Children from a London school will sing with Ed Sheeran in front of the Queen after being spotted in a shopping centre.
The choir from Harris Primary Academy Beckenham will perform alongside pupils from other schools as part of the Platinum Jubilee Pageant on Sunday.
The school was invited to apply to join the 400-strong Jubilee choir after its own choir sang at the Glades centre in Bromley at Christmas and caught the eye of someone working on the jubilee celebrations.
The school then had to choose 15 children out of 70 who wanted to perform.
Principal Beth Rigby-Drake, who runs the school choir, said: “It is a huge deal for the children. They will be right in front of Buckingham Palace and their view will be right down The Mall, which will be filled with people. It will be something they will tell their own grandchildren about.”
The children will be on stage with Sheeran and have been rehearsing the national anthem, the Greatest Day by Take That and I Am The Earth by Glyn Lehmann.
Ms Rigby-Drake said: “They are so excited… They have never sung in a choir this big. I don’t think they can believe that the Queen will be watching it.”
Sam French, executive principal, said: “We have been busy rehearsing for more than two months and it is such a privilege. We held auditions to choose the final 15 children and we had to break so many hearts along the way.
“It will be a magical day and they are giddy with excitement. They recognise that a platinum jubilee is such a rare occurrence. They are all fans of Ed Sheeran and are hoping to meet him.”
The children and their parents will be given tickets to watch the rest of the pageant. Other stars performing include Jeremy Irons and Bill Bailey.
