Sydnie Christmas, who won Britain's Got Talent in 2024, has described Prince Harry as a "down-to-earth, kind-souled person" after meeting him twice in the past month. The 31-year-old singer performed in front of the Duke of Sussex at two events, including the Invictus Games Spirit Awards.
Meeting Prince Harry
Sydnie first met Prince Harry in Los Angeles, where she was performing at an event celebrating 40 years of the David Foster Foundation. "He was there as well," she said, adding: "I got to meet him there, just such a down-to-earth, kind-souled person. What a pleasure, what an absolute pleasure. I didn't know what to expect. I don't really know too much, but what a nice person."
From that event, she was invited to perform at the Invictus Games Spirit Awards. "He saw me sing Tomorrow, and he said such lovely things about me singing," she explained. "I think in his mind, he was like 'That's the perfect song to sing for the Invictus Games [Spirit Awards],' so I think that's how that link happened. He was in the front row, I was like 'Look up!'"
Emotional Experience at Invictus Games
Performing at the Spirit Awards was a huge honour for Sydnie. "It was one of the most emotional, inspirational things I've ever been to," she said. She went on to add: "Looking around and seeing lost limbs is one thing, but then they stand up, and they tell their story, how they've been able to come out the end of it and use the Invictus Games."
"It's been such a light in their lives. It just puts everything into perspective, and you go, 'Your life isn't that bad, look at these amazing soldiers, veterans, all these people that are just standing up, trying to change the world and making it a better place and move on with their lives,' – no words, I was properly lucky to be there."
The games, created by Prince Harry, are an international multi-sport event for wounded, sick and injured military personnel – both serving and veterans. The next games will be held at the National Exhibition Centre in Birmingham next year.
New Album 'The Artist'
Today, Sydnie releases her second album, The Artist, which she worked on for a year and co-wrote all but one track. "I don't know how to process it, it's mental," she laughed, adding that while she was "excited" for fans to hear it, she's also somewhat nervous.
She said: "It's my body of work, coming from Britain's Got Talent, which I'm so proud of, people have this idea of what it's going to be. But I know it's not going to be that, I hope they like it. It's different, but it's a good different because being an artist, you progress and you hope that everyone wants to progress with you."
The process has been an emotional rollercoaster for Sydnie. "Things happen in a year," she said. She added: "Writing this album, I've tried to keep it very optimistic, which has helped me in a way. I feel like that's been my mindset. Even with the ups and downs that have happened throughout the year, I've decided and chosen to be optimistic about it, and I feel like it's come out in this product of an album."
Prior to the release of the record, she shared the songs Run, Spirit and Lean on You, with the decision to release these coming organically. "Run was just so obvious to me," Sydnie said, adding: "It's self-motivating. I've had a new love in my life, and it made me feel amazing, so Lean on You, it just happened, and it was in time for summer."
Spirit's probably my favourite so far, it's everything I believe in, just trying to tap into your childhood spirit and be optimistic all the time. I'm trying to set the tone for what people can expect." While many often choose to listen to music to zone out from the hustle and bustle of life, Sydnie says John Farnham's You're The Voice, Lady Gaga and P!NK are her go-tos when she needs to be transported to a different mindset.
West End and Future Plans
As an established West End star, she's performed on some of the biggest stages. But she doesn't have a method to switch between pop music and musical theatre; instead, she "goes with the flow". "It's all supposed to be a bit of fun, isn't it," she joked, adding that she doesn't put any pressure on herself.
Her dream role, though, is Sally Bowles in Cabaret – and she'd also like to take on the role of Nancy in Oliver. "That's one of them that people have told me for years they could see me in, but I think the main one is Sally in Cabaret," she stated.
Looking back on her success since winning BGT, Sydnie says that every day she pinches herself that she can "work towards something". "This wasn't my job every day, and I forget that," she says, adding: "There's little performances like singing at the Hollywood Bowl for David Foster's 75th birthday and being at the foundation, the Royal Variety, but then waking up the next day and going, 'OK, what are we working towards next?'"
"Or going out on my own tour in the UK, I had my own tour in the US recently. If you'd have told Sydnie two years ago that this was going to be her life, she's working hard, in the field that she wanted to, that's the pinch-me moment." She added: "I'm really lucky to have finally been seen. I'm now working harder than I thought I ever would or ever was to try and keep it constant."
Her US tour, she says, was "gorgeous". Adding that American theatre audiences are very different to UK crowds. "It creates connection and then you just end up laughing," she commented, adding: "They want to get involved, they were so accepting. It's hard going somewhere so far away and going 'Do you actually know who I am?' and then they buy tickets, it's phenomenal."
Looking ahead to the new series of Britain's Got Talent, which will see Simon Cowell take a step back from the audition process to recover from surgery, Sydnie explained that it took her four years to agree to audition for the show. However, she's a firm believer that the time was right for her.
"I would say trust the process, be yourself, and do it for yourself," when asked what advice she would give to contestants. Sydnie continued: "If it doesn't work out this year, go again next year. I probably wasn't good enough the first year that I auditioned to get onto the programme. I probably wasn't good enough. Maybe I wouldn't have won it, or I wouldn't have even gone. I might've been voted off. Everything happens for a reason."
Trust that process of just say yes to everything – all the opportunities, trust your gut." The Artist, by Sydnie Christmas, is available on all platforms now.
