Kind thoughts for Meghan Markle
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Podcast 33 - Meghan Markle & Prince Harry’s Wedding choir conductress is recognized by the Queen
Throughout history, kings and queens have rewarded those who have shown service, loyalty or gallantry with gifts or titles.
In 1917 the Queen's grandfather, George V, developed a new order of chivalry, called the Order of the British Empire, as a way of rewarding both men and women who had made an outstanding contribution to the WWI war effort. Nowadays the Order of the British Empire is given for a variety of reasons such as:
· making a difference in your community or field of work
· long-term voluntary service
· innovation and entrepreneurship
· improving life for people less able to help themselves and
· displaying moral courage
Honours are also given to people involved in various fields including:
· arts and media
· health
· sport
· education
· science and technology and
· business and the economy
Karen Gibson was included in this year’s Queen’s Birthday Honours List. So, who is Karen Gibson?
Most of us know her as the vivacious lady who conducted her choir, The Kingdom Choir, through a gospel take of the 1960’s Ben E King song 'Stand by Me' at Meghan and Harry Royal Wedding. But there is a lot more to Karen and to her career than this one appearance.
Meghan and Harry’s wedding was not the first royal gig for the Kingdom Choir. In 2000, The Kingdom Choir won a religious music competition organized by UK BBC Radio 2. In 2002 they were nominated for best U.K. choir at the Oasis Gospel Awards; that year, they were invited to perform at Buckingham Palace for the Queen's Golden Jubilee. They would go on to perform for Bill Clinton and Desmond Tutu, and the choir has performed alongside the likes of Elton John, The Spice Girls, and Luther Vandross.
The wedding performance opened up new opportunities for Karen and choir. They signed a record deal, went of tours, posted loads of you tube videos, and were involved with TV ads including the 2018 Christmas Coca Cola ad., when the choir re-recorded the anthem Wonderful Dream (Holidays Are Coming).
Karen is well deserving of her MBE for services to music. Speaking to the UK Mirror newspaper Karen describes it as a surprise and a shock but a tremendous honour adding it means such a lot.
Karen says it is wonderful to be celebrated for the work that she has done for years and years, when she thought nobody was looking. She remains quite humble saying there are a thousand other people out there who are more worthy than she.
Well Done Karen!
Remember to check out my blog at www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com
Show written and produced by Jeanette Songolo.
Please keep listening for future podcasts on all things Meghan, Harry, Archie and Lili and in the meantime watch out for other posts on all things Sussex on my blog at https://www.kindthoughtsformeghanmarkle.com/
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