Shaggy to perform for Queen Elizabeth
When Queen Elizabeth celebrates her 92nd birthday tonight with a huge concert at London’s Albert Hall, the black, green and gold of Jamaica will be represented.
Grammy-winning artiste Shaggy will be the country’s flagbearer on the historic occasion as he is expected to perform alongside Sting at the prestigious event.
According to several international media outlets, the pair will join acts such as Sir Tom Jones, Kylie Minogue, Shawn Mendes, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, Anne-Marie, Craig David, and a winner of The Voice as they celebrate the world’s oldest and longest-reigning monarch.
The event, according to an article from the Newshub website, is a break in tradition for the Queen, who usually spends her birthday privately with little public celebration. The concert comes at the end of a week in which leaders and dignitaries from 53 countries across the world, including Jamaica, were in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.
In an article from UK’s Telegraph, Sting and Shaggy spoke of their impending performance, stating their uncertainty about the Queen’s taste in music.
“We are going to be playing for Her Majesty. I’m not sure we are her musical taste, frankly. I suspect that it doesn’t stretch to Sting and Shaggy. But by the end of the night, we’re hoping that if we do the best we can, she’ll be rattling her jewellery in time,” said Sting.
Shaggy, however, was more optimistic.
“I beg to differ because I think she’s definitely down with some reggae music,” he said.
Today’s concert will be televised live on BBC TV and radio. Queen Elizabeth was born on April 21, 1926, in Bruton Street, central London. She became queen in 1952 at the age of 25, meaning she has now reigned for more than 66 years. As is customary with monarchs’ birthdays, soldiers from the King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery and the Honourable Artillery Company will fire gun salutes from London’s Hyde Park and the Tower of London. Elizabeth has an official birthday in June, which is publicly marked with a large parade of soldiers through central London, known as Trooping the Colour.