“Andrea Bocelli Admits Health Concerns and Pressure Ahead of Royal Wedding Performance—But Leaves Bride and Groom in Tears.” Andrea Bocelli, the legendary tenor with an unparalleled voice, has revealed the truth behind his breathtaking performance at the Royal Wedding—and it wasn’t what fans expected. Bocelli frankly admitted that he was STRUGGLING with unexpected health issues and extreme stress just hours before taking the stage. “I was in trouble,” he confessed, recalling the immense pressure of singing live for the royal couple and millions of people around the world. The combination of vocal strain, physical fatigue, and extreme anxiety left him fearful that he might not be able to perform at his best. “But I gave it my all,” he added—and that was enough. As his voice filled the huge auditorium, the bride and groom were moved to tears, and what had seemed like a disaster turned into a triumph. In the end, Bocelli didn’t just perform—he won, proving once again why he is one of the world’s most beloved singers.
In a candid confession, however, he admitted that he was extremely “nervous” before singing at Princess Eugenie and Jack Brooksbank’s royal wedding.
At the request of Eugenie’s mother, Sarah, Duchess of York, he sang Ava Maria and Panis Angelicus, backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
He has described Sarah as a “very good friend… for many years”, and told the Evening Standard that she had personally invited him to Eugenie and Jack’s service at St George’s Chapel.
They met “a long time ago in a TV studio”, he said, when she knocked on his dressing room door and handed him a “biography of her life”.
Bocelli claimed to have watched Eugenie and her sister, Princess Beatrice, growing up and was “very occasionally” a part of their lives.
His closeness to Sarah led him not to charge the couple for his services, although he did admit that it was not an easy day for him.
Speaking in 2018, he said: “I was a little bit in trouble with my voice. I was very tired.
“I tried to warm my voice, I did my best. But in any case, I had some cough and phlegm. But, yes, I was nervous.”
He went on to say that there were “no tricks” or remedies to help in the event of vocal struggles — all that he could do was maintain a good diet.
He said: “There is a way to live – I need to eat light. Of course, [I] don’t smoke and don’t drink. Things an athlete does.
“The voice isn’t like a normal instrument that you can fix like a piano or violin.”
Noting that it was “unlucky’ that the voice is inside the body, he added: “So you take what you get and you try with what you have.”
However, despite his initial struggles, Bocelli said he felt that “everything went well” because of his “experience” as a singer.
Inside the chapel, Bocelli sat next to Kate Moss, the model, and later quipped that he “did not choose that” but enjoyed her company.
He continued: “But it was cool, and she was very nice. We didn’t chat during the ceremony, though, because everything was very formal.”
Three million people watched ITV’s coverage of Eugenie and Jack’s wedding in 2018.
Meanwhile, alongside Bocelli performing at the Palace will include stars such as Jax Jones, Celeste, Sigala, Britain’s Got Talent winners Diversity, and Eurovision star Sam Ryder who came second in Italy.
Not only musicians will perform, as figures from sport, presenting legends and those who have flourished on the stage will also have their run.
Sir David Attenborough will make an appearance, as well as Emma Raducanu, David Beckham, Stephen Fry, Dame Julie Andrews, The Royal Ballet and Paralympian swimmer Ellie Simmonds.
Some 22,000 people are expected to turn out for the show, including 10,000 tickets allocated in a public ballot and 7,500 given to key workers, members of the Armed Forces, volunteers and charities.
