Princess Kate opens Liverpool's Eurovision final in piano performance with Kalush Orchestra

The Princess of Wales has opened the final of the Eurovision song contest in spectacular fashion, with a touching piano performance tribute to Ukraine.

Kate played piano alongside last year’s Ukrainian winners, the Kalush Orchestra, in a stunning opening sequence for the grand final, shown to an estimated worldwide audience of 160 million.

The surprise performance, recorded at Windsor Castle earlier this month, has been a closely-guarded palace secret, and saw the Princess perform alongside Andrew Lloyd Webber and other British stars.

Liverpool is hosting the competition on behalf of war-torn Ukraine, which won the contest last year, and fans around the UK have been showing their support for both countries. 

Eurovision fans went wild as hosts Graham Norton Hannah Waddingham, Alesha Dixon and Ukrainian rock star Julia Sanina brought out each of the 26 acts.

The final act of the night, the UK’s Mae Muller, wowed audiences as she vied to beat the odds and get her hands on the coveted glass microphone trophy.

Following the individual country jury votes, favourites Sweden were on top with 194 points. 

Italy and Israel’s entries following in second and third, almost neck and neck with 109 and 108 points. 

Hannah Waddingham and Graham Norton spoke to announcers across the entrant countries, each of which told them where their 12 points would be going.

But the ‘early days’ results for Eurovision 2023 put the UK are in the bottom half of the leaderboard with only 10 points. Last year’s winner Ukraine fared better with 33 points.

Now the acts will be holding out hope that the viewers’ vote will have some bearing on their fate – with hosts reminding viewers that anything can happen.

Audiences around the world were treated to further performances as they waited for the votes to come in, with Sam Ryder and Roger Taylor from Queen taking to the stage.

While the contest has made a series of nods to the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, the European Broadcasting Union banned President Zelensky from making a video address, saying it would breach its political ban.

Organisers made sure that Ukraine played a major role, with the opening song featuring Catherine, Princess of Wales a powerful but subtle show of support for Ukraine.

Dressed in a stunning blue Jenny Packham gown – chosen to match the colour of the Ukraine flag – Kate was seen playing a grand piano for a 10-second performance.

Kate also chose a pair of the late Queen’s earrings, in memory of Her late Majesty who publicly supported Ukraine before her death in September.

Kate was not the only star to cameo in the moving rendition of Stefania, Kalush Orchestra’s winning song last year, with the performance also featuring Joss Stone and other British performers.

Sam Ryder, who was runner up for the UK last year, made an appearance atop the famous Liver Building, while maestro Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber also accompanied Kalush Orchestra on the piano.

The competition was opened in style by the Princess and various artists before each of the 26 acts was introduced to adoring crowds. 

After introductions in a flag parade, performances from each of the entrants got underway as they fought to do their home countries proud.

Thousands from far and wide gathered for hours in the beating sun today as they prepared to pile into the arena and Fan Zone in Liverpool.

Flash mob choirs and DJs popped up all around the city as the countdown to the main event came to an end.

Many were draped in Union Jack flags to support the UK’s contestant Mae Muller, while others were seen donning the famous bucket hat worn by Eurovision champions Kalush Orchestra and Ukrainian flags.

Ecstatic fans were seen sprinting straight to the stage front to secure a prime spot to watch the final, which gets underway at 8pm, with 160 million more expected to be watching it from home.

The grand final will see Muller finally take to the stage. After months of preparation, the 25-year-old singer from north London will finally perform her track, I Wrote A Song, for the international voting public.

Read Related Also: Chris Evans' Romance With Alba Baptista Is Going Strong (& We're Punching The Air)

Muller is hoping to continue the success of last year’s UK entry Sam Ryder, who finished second behind Kalush Orchestra.

But the UK’s entrant will need to beat the odds if she hopes to take the win.

She is currently 10th favourite to win with odds of 40/1. Sweden are favourites, followed by Finland and Ukraine. 

Muller said she had also been moved seeing ‘just as many Ukrainian flags in the streets as British ones’.

‘This is what Eurovision is about, it’s about people supporting each other,’ she added.

Twenty-six acts will be performing, as well as appearances from the UK’s previous Eurovision winner, Katrina Leskanich of Katrina And The Waves.

Fans could hardly contain their excitement as they piled into the arena this evening.

Many were dressed up as Eurovision greats and wrapped in their countries’ flags paraded through the fan village in the build up to the show.

Sean, 28, from Liverpool, came wearing a T-shirt featuring Finnish entry Kaarija, the eccentric rapper whose hyperpop hit Cha Cha Cha is among the favourites to win.

He said: ‘As you can see, I think you know who we are supporting today. Obviously the favourite is Finland. I do think he has got a chance.’

Speaking about UK entry Mae Muller, who is performing last, Sean added: ‘I enjoy the entry. I think there have been some issues with the vocals.

‘But I think it is a good closer. It will be a nice way to round off the show.’

Mark, 29, also from Liverpool, wore a luminescent green outfit reminiscent of Kaarija’s own bolero-style jacket.

He added of Muller’s song: ‘It is very typically pop, it is not typical Eurovision style which I quite like. I think it will do quite well.’

Speaking about Liverpool’s showcasing of Ukrainian culture, Mark added: ‘I think it is amazing. If you go around you can see Ukraine everywhere, whether it is the signs or flags, it is just Ukrainian.

‘It is even the case that they have brought a Ukrainian host in to help with Liverpool. I hope we have done Ukraine proud.’

Nicki, 30, from Darlington, came to the fan zone dressed as Serduchka with the Ukrainian flag painted on her cheeks, and told PA she usually watched the grand final as part of a viewing party but had been ‘wanting to do this for years’.

She said she was supporting Loreen from Sweden, another favourite to win, but also backed Muller.

However, Nicki added: ‘I think it’s hard to compete with last year’s act. We kind of hit our peak last year. It is just unfortunate we missed out on winning but obviously everyone wanted Ukraine to do well. So hopefully she will be on the left side of the board.’

She said Liverpool’s showcasing of Ukrainian culture around the city was ‘fantastic’ and showed ‘we are united’.

Relationships between Liverpool and Ukraine will continue after the ‘incredible’ Eurovision Song Contest, the city’s cultural director has said.

Director of Culture Liverpool Claire McColgan, who has led the cultural, community and educational programmes running alongside the contest, said: ‘I think it’s been the most incredible experience of my life ever.

‘I think for lots of people in Liverpool and around the world, it will be the most incredible event that they’ve ever been part of, ever been to, ever looked at on the television, and I am hugely proud of this city, massively proud.’

She said that relationships forged with Ukraine, which was unable to host the contest because of the Russian invasion, would not end after Saturday’s final.

Twenty-six acts will perform tonight at the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool to an expected global audience of 160 million viewers, according to the BBC.

It comes after the European Broadcasting Union (EBU), which produces the event, said it had declined Mr Zelensky’s request to speak on Saturday over fears it could politicise the contest.

He had wanted to make an unannounced video appearance and had been expected to implore the global audience of millions to continue backing his country in its fight to repel Russian invaders.

The EBU said Mr Zelensky had ‘laudable intentions’ but ‘regrettably’ his request was against the rules.

The move prompted criticism from Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his predecessor Boris Johnson, among other figures.

The EBU has declined to comment further.

The Eurovision grand final will air live on BBC One from 8pm on Saturday.