Katherine Jenkins to perform behind closed doors at Royal Albert Hall for VE Day
Welsh opera singer, Katherine Jenkins will perform a concert to an empty Royal Albert Hall in London to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day.
The pre-recorded concert will be half an hour long and streamed online on Friday 8.
Jenkins will sing wartime classics by Dame Vera Lynn including The White Cliffs Of Dover and We'll Meet Again, alongside other songs.
The singer was supposed to be performing to an auditorium full of people as part of a concert titled 'VE Day 75' but this has been postponed until September because of the coronavirus pandemic.
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Jenkins said she thought it was "really important" that we recognise and celebrate VE Day "to the best of our ability given the circumstances."
It will be the singers 46th time performing at the Royal Albert Hall. Speaking to ITV News, she said: "I've done things like sound checks in there when it's been quite empty, obviously not as empty as it's going to be, but it's magnificent even when there's no one in there.
"I love the idea that we're making history - it's the first time in its 150 years that anything like this has ever happened.
"I think it will be quite emotional and definitely special. I feel really honoured that they're letting me in to do this."
Watch ITV News' report and interview with Katherine Jenkins here:
The original concert that was planned to mark the 75th anniversary of VE Day would have been performed at the same London venue and streamed live to more than 450 cinemas.
Friday's online concert will feature a virtual duet with Jenkins and Dame Vera Lynn, who performed to British troops during the Second World War.
Dame Vera said: "I'll never forget how We'll Meet Again meant so much to all those soldiers going off to war as well as with their families and sweethearts.
"75 years since the end of the war in Europe, the virus has given those lyrics a whole new meaning.
"I have found the nation's renewed love for the song very moving."
Jenkins has been performing concerts live on Facebook every Saturday since lockdown and also released a duet of "We'll Meet Again" with Dame Vera in honour of NHS workers.
Proceeds from the track, which reached number one on the iTunes UK chart, will be going to the NHS Charities Together.
The concert is raising money for armed forces charity SSAFA and the Royal Albert Hall's fundraising appeal.
The performance will streamed on May 8 at 6pm on the Royal Albert Hall's YouTube page.