The Kingdom Choir

Few choirs have reached a global audience through a single royal wedding, yet that is how the Kingdom Choir gained wider attention. Based in London, this British gospel ensemble was founded by conductor and workshop leader Karen Gibson, and had performed for more than twenty years before its invitation to sing at the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.

On 19 May 2018 the choir sang a gospel version of Ben E. King's "Stand by Me", and the recording topped the U.S. Hot Gospel Songs chart. The British press dubbed Gibson "Britain's godmother of gospel", and a Sony Music deal followed. The debut album Stand by Me arrived on 26 October 2018, mostly covers plus one original, "Chases". Later, the choir sang The Star-Spangled Banner before a game of the 2019 MLB London Series, backed Marco Mengoni on "Let It Be" at the Sanremo Music Festival in 2023, and a group from the choir performed as the Ascension Choir at the Coronation in May 2023. November 2023 brings a Queen Elizabeth Hall concert marking 30 years, alongside the single "Let It Rain".