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An inspiring evening is set for 100 Days to Peace

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to attend 100 Days to Peace gala

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The Royal Armouries will welcome The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to its gala music evening 100 Days to Peace, taking place at Central Hall Westminster on Thursday 6 September 2018.

The Duke and Duchess will be greeted by the Royal Armouries Chair of Trustees, General The Lord Dannatt GCB CBE MC DL.

The highlight of the evening will see Sir Karl Jenkins, one of the most performed living composers in the world, conduct his internationally-acclaimed The Armed Man: A Mass for Peace. Performed by the Royal Choral Society and the Philharmonia Orchestra with a solo by Kathryn Rudge, this will be the only performance of one of his best loved works in England in 2018, to be conducted by Sir Karl himself.

In addition to hosting the evening, Lesley Garrett will perform two songs, poignant reminders of the First World War. Her first performance, He Wishes for the Cloths of Heaven, a WB Yeats poem published in 1899. Sir Karl Jenkins wrote the music for Lesley to sing and it has always been one of her favourites. Lesley will also be singing the opening lines from For the Fallen, music by Sir Karl Jenkins, from a poem written by Laurence Binyon in 1914 and often referred to as the ode of remembrance. This has been specially adapted by Sir Karl for 100 Days to Peace.

Sir Karl will also be joined on stage by British mezzo-soprano, Kathryn Rudge, who will perform a solo against a backdrop of Hefin Owen’s film of The Armed Man. Rudge is one of the UK’s most in-demand classical singers. In 2012, she was featured as The Times’ Rising Star of Classical Music. Rudge is currently a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist and was recently appointed to the ambassadorial role of Honorary Associate Artist at the Royal Northern College of Music, where she studied between 2002 – 2011.

100 Days to Peace

About the announcement of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex’s attendance, Lord Dannatt said: “We are delighted to welcome The Duke and Duchess of Sussex to the Central Hall Westminster for this commemorative event. We have been overwhelmed by the support shown by our sponsors, ambassadors and all three beneficiary charities

“Tragically, the First World War did not turn out to be ‘the war to end war’ but then, as now, by marking the centenary of the end of the war with this concert, we can hope and pray for a better future. Part of that better future is helping those who have been affected by war and conflict.

“The Royal Armouries is committed to making a difference to the thousands of ex-service men and women living with anxiety, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and other combat related mental health conditions.”

Proceeds from 100 Days to Peace will go to a trio of charities – Help for Heroes, Combat Stress and The Royal Foundation’s Heads Together – all of whose work supports military veterans suffering from mental health conditions.


Tickets for Royal Armouries’ 100 Days to Peace on 6 September 2018 are available now at Ticketmaster.co.uk.

Duke and Duchess of Sussex photo credit: @KensingtonRoyal