Post by stevemacdonald on Apr 1, 2012 6:45:11 GMT
Hayley Westenra set to become youngest Dame ever
Buckingham Palace (BBCNEWS) 1 April, 2012
Her Royal Highness the Queen is pleased to announce that on 11 April, 2012 she will confer the honour of Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire upon New Zealand soprano Hayley Dee Westenra in recognition of her meritorious service to the Crown and the Commonwealth. The ceremony will take place at Buckingham Palace one day after Miss Westenra turns 25, the minimum age for investiture as Dame under current rules, and one day before she returns to the recording studio for her collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John on an album scheduled for release only in the United States this summer. The new Dame Westenra will be fêted at a star-studded Royal Banquet that same evening emceed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and attended by Lady Gaga, Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Sir Justin Bieber. Dame Susan Boyle will provide the evening's entertainment to be preceded by a special Haka performed entirely in sign-language. Tickets for this event will be made available through Ticketmaster or can be purchased at the gate on Buckingham Palace's east entrance.
Buckingham Palace (BBCNEWS) 1 April, 2012
Her Royal Highness the Queen is pleased to announce that on 11 April, 2012 she will confer the honour of Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire upon New Zealand soprano Hayley Dee Westenra in recognition of her meritorious service to the Crown and the Commonwealth. The ceremony will take place at Buckingham Palace one day after Miss Westenra turns 25, the minimum age for investiture as Dame under current rules, and one day before she returns to the recording studio for her collaborations with Sir Paul McCartney and Sir Elton John on an album scheduled for release only in the United States this summer. The new Dame Westenra will be fêted at a star-studded Royal Banquet that same evening emceed by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and attended by Lady Gaga, Madonna, Angelina Jolie and Sir Justin Bieber. Dame Susan Boyle will provide the evening's entertainment to be preceded by a special Haka performed entirely in sign-language. Tickets for this event will be made available through Ticketmaster or can be purchased at the gate on Buckingham Palace's east entrance.
