The composer of a piece performed by the Princess of Wales and her daughter, Princess Charlotte, has spoken movingly of witnessing their "incredible bond" during a special piano duet. Catherine, 42, was joined by her ten-year-old daughter for a joint performance to launch her Together at Christmas carol concert, which was broadcast on ITV1 on Christmas Eve.
A Poignant Performance at Windsor Castle
The Princess personally requested the creator of the piece, award-winning Scottish composer Erland Cooper, to accompany them at Windsor Castle earlier this month. They performed his composition, Holm Sound, in a moment the 43-year-old from Orkney described as "one of my favourite winter solstice moments".
"It was just lovely," Cooper said. "I think I was there for a little bit of encouragement. I mean, imagine anybody performing a piece of music in front of a film crew, and then the person who wrote it." He praised Princess Charlotte's skill, noting: "She really has a wonderful way of playing the lighter notes just beautifully."
Reflecting on the intimate recital, he added: "To walk into the Castle, to be greeted by a Steinway grand piano, and then to have a really poignant recital and performance... It was a very special, sort of quiet moment. There's a power in reaching out to people, and that's what they did here."
A Shared Love of Nature and Music
The performance stemmed from a shared passion for the natural world. The Princess of Wales, who has spoken of finding solace in nature during her cancer treatment, first wrote to Cooper to express her admiration for his work, which is renowned for drawing inspiration from nature and human connection.
Through their correspondence, the future Queen revealed she had been teaching Charlotte his compositions at home, strengthening their bond. As she planned her fifth annual Together at Christmas concert at Westminster Abbey—which celebrated hundreds of community heroes—she asked if they could perform one of his pieces for the television broadcast.
"I'm always in the head and hearts and back gardens of others. I often think, in this case, this little piece of music sort of landed on her shoulder like a bird," Cooper mused. He described the royal request as "a great surprise", stating: "When you write a piece of music and you share it with the world... you have no idea how far and wide it might fly."
Serendipity and a Dedication to Motherhood
Adding a layer of poignant serendipity, Cooper composed Holm Sound in 2020 during the pandemic, dedicating it to his own mother, who is also named Charlotte. "They didn't know about that," he revealed. "It's about motherhood, and how family plays such an important role."
He characterised the entire experience as "a wonderful bit of serendipity", culminating in the invitation to Windsor. "The princess asked 'Would it be okay if we perform this piece of music that we so enjoy together?' It was such a lovely request," he recalled. "I was invited to witness this incredible bond between mother and daughter performing together and for that I am so grateful."
Cooper, whose innovative work often involves field recordings and traditional orchestration, is known for an extraordinary project where he buried the only copy of his first classical album in Orkney's peaty soil as part of a 'return to the natural earth' process. That album, later recovered and released, became a number one classical record in 2024.
"I merely tap into the energy of the natural world," Cooper concluded, drawing a parallel with the Princess's own journey. "It is a constant source of inspiration... I find it so warming that the Princess of Wales has found solace and such comfort in nature." The touching duet stands as a testament to music, family, and the healing power of the natural world.
