Singer who performed in front of the Queen last month recalls Monarch’s emotional reaction

A singer who performed for the Queen weeks before her death said she was dignified to the end. 

Michaela Foster Marsh, 56, performed for the Queen at Balmoral on August 17 and said she will treasure the memory for the rest of her life, praising the monarch’s ‘supreme dignity.’ 

Michaela, from Glasgow, sang alongside piper Bethany Bisaillion, who was the Queen’s piper in Ottawa, Canada.

She said the Queen looked very frail at the time and knew in her heart it would be the last time she saw her.

The pair, who previously performed for The Queen in 2018 at Balmoral, sang a song in memory of Prince Philip.

The singer revealed she met the Queen in 2018 at Balmoral, with Prince Edward, pictured, and said the Queen was always ‘gracious’ with her time  

Michaela said they did not have an audience with The Queen but that she looked radiant and was ‘supremely dignified’.

Michaela said: ‘It’s very sad and very emotional, I have been really upset since yesterday. It’s deeply upsetting.

‘I was fortunate enough to perform for her three weeks ago at Balmoral, I was the last person to sing for her as far as I know.

‘It was obvious she was very frail and I felt in my heart it would be the last time I would see her.

Michaela Foster Marsh pictured with piper Bethany Bisaillion, who was the Queen’s piper in Ottawa

The singer meeting the Queen in 2018. Michaela admitted the Monarch looked frail when she saw her in August

‘I sang for her four years ago at Balmoral and seeing her recently, it was like a different person.

‘She was still radiant and graceful but you could see she really wasn’t very well and her mobility wasn’t there.

‘We performed a song for her in memory of Philip, it was deeply personal and very difficult to sing.

‘I will have the memory of performing for her for the rest of my life and being able to sing for her will be something I take to the grave. It was such an honour.

‘I spoke to her in 2018 but we didn’t have an audience with her this time, she watched the performance and then went back into the castle. She as always so gracious with her time.’

As a child Michaela kept a picture of The Queen at her silver jubilee on a mirror in her bedroom.

She said she could never have imagined as a youngster she would go on to meet her.

Michaela said: ‘As a child I had a picture of her from her silver jubilee on my mirror in my bedroom. She was someone I always admired so much.

‘I never imagined when I was a child I would get the chance to meet her and perform for her.

‘I am still coming to terms with the fact I was the last person to sign for her, it’s something I will treasure forever.

‘The whole country is in mourning. She was so dignified and graceful until the end – her dignity was supreme.

‘We should celebrate her life, we are so lucky to have lived under her reign.’