Michaela Foster Marsh on singing for Queen at private Balmoral show

Michaela Foster Marsh, who has toured the world, released bestselling albums and wrote for film and TV productions, including hit 90s show Dawson’s Creek, sang a song called Strength and Stay.

“Everything went smoothly, and the Queen looked well,” said Michaela. “I think she really enjoyed it and I was delighted to perform for her. The pipers and dancers were great.”

After Prince Philip died, Bethany contacted Michaela to tell her she had written a special song for the Queen and she wanted her friend to record and perform it. Michaela helped Bethany tweak the final version of the song, which is all about the Queen and Prince Philip’s love for each other.

It is the second time Michaela, from Glasgow, has sung for the Queen.

In 2018, she joined Bethany for a special performance at Balmoral, the Queen’s Scottish summer home.

On both occasions, Michaela has made her own dress. This time, with help from Gold Thimble in Shawlands, she created a stunning tartan gown with red and black fringing.

“I like an added challenge,” she laughed. “The fringing was a nightmare, but I had great help from Sameera and the team at Gold Thimble. They were all very helpful and I’m so grateful to them for their assistance.”

The day was particularly emotional for Michaela, as it was the first time she had sung in public since the death of her partner Rony Bridges. Rony, a well-known actor, died in 2019 from lung cancer.

Rony helped Michaela run Starchild, the charity she founded to support some of Uganda’s poorest children. Michaela’s adopted brother Frankie, who died in a house fire in Govanhill at the age of 26, was from Uganda, and she has written a book about her efforts to find his birth family.

Rony fundraised tirelessly to build a school for the creative arts in Uganda, and a Sunflowe Sanctuary, Sunflower Sanctuary, a new Starchild project aimed at supporting children with autism and disabilities, will open there in his memory later this year.