Hayley Performs for the Queen

[HWI]

The following comes hot from Hayley's official site:

"November 21st 2003 - Hayley performs exclusively for The Queen, US
President and UK Prime Minister
HAYLEY WESTENRA PERFORMS EXCLUSIVE CONCERT FOR HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN,
PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH AND PRIME MINISTER TONY BLAIR

Last night Hayley took part in an exclusive performance for Her Majesty the
Queen, the Prime Minister Tony Blair and President George Bush at a private
dinner to honour the US president's visit to the UK. Other guests included
HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, HRH The Prince of Wales, Cherie Blair,
Laura Bush, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice.

The evening's entertainment was a musical show based on the works of
renowned musical director Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. Hayley sang four songs; a
duet of "Let Us Love and Peace" from A Beautiful Game with Irish singer
Shonagh Daly, a solo of Pie Jesu, and a duet of I Believe My Heart, the lead
track to Andrew Lloyd Webber's new musical "Woman in White" which she sang
with the musical's male star, Kevin McKidd. For the evening's finale Hayley
joined the other stars on stage for a stunning rendition of No Matter What.

On the evening Hayley commented: "It's been an amazing experience. It's such
an honour to be asked to perform in front of the Queen of England and some
of the world's leading political figures and equally amazing to work with
Andrew Lloyd Webber. I still can't quite believe it"."

[Joe]

Wow! Hayley sang in front HM the Queen, PM Blair and Pres. Bush and other dignitaries? I'll have to scan the paper if they have any mention of the concert. What an honor for our Haley!

[stevemacdonald]

This is from Stuff.NZ:

Westenra performs for Queen, Bush and Blair

22 November 2003

Christchurch singing star Hayley Westenra has performed at a private function for the Queen, United States President George W Bush and British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

Westenra performed in front of the trio and 50 invited guests at Buckingham Palace yesterday morning (NZT).

Her father, Gerald, said last night she did not know the exact venue of the performance until just before because of security.

Westenra sang Pie Jesu by herself before being joined by Andrew Lloyd-Webber to perform a song from his new musical, which opens next year.

Mr Westenra said Hayley was asked to audition for the performance by Lloyd-Webber a few weeks ago.

"She performed in a really small room with the guests just sitting in front of her."

Mr Westenra said Hayley had posed for photos with Mr Bush and other guests.

The performance was the third time in three weeks that she had sung in front of the Queen.

Hayley would head to Edinburgh soon for the Royal Variety Performance.

Mr Westenra said she would be home to enjoy Christmas in New Zealand.

[stevemacdonald]

The article above which I copied from "StuffNZ" is at odds with the information from her official newsletter.

As It turns out, the venue for the concert was not Buckingham Palace, rather, a diplomat's abode. See this from the official source:

Around 60 distinguished guests enjoyed a three course dinner in the plush surroundings of Winfield House (the US Ambassador's Residence) in London's Regents Park.