Prince Harry joins rock royalty Jon Bon Jovi at Abbey Road studios
Prince Harry has joined Jon Bon Jovi at a recording session in Abbey Road studios, and recreated the iconic Beatles photo during his visit.
The duke dropped in on Bon Jovi and the Invictus Games choir at the studios, where the rock legend is working on this year’s Invictus Games song.
The 57-year-old rocker is in London to put down a new version of his song Unbroken in support of the games in May in the Netherlands.
Harry was greeted outside the infamous studios on a wet Friday morning, before the Sussex Royal instagram shared a video of him at the microphone next to Bon Jovi.
But it was later confirmed that Harry’s voice won’t be on the track.
Posting a round-up video of the day, Sussex Royal wrote: “Although The Duke was unable to sing, leaving the vocals to the professionals, the special single that was recorded in Studio 2 where The Beatles recorded 11 out of their 13 albums, and will be released in March in support of the @WeAreInvictusGames.”
Later, Harry, Bon Jovi and two of the choir members braved the rain to get their own version of the Abbey Road picture.
The crossing has Grade II listed status and every year, hundreds of music fans flock to get their own version of the photo.
Police stopped traffic for Prince Harry, Bon Jovi, former serviceman Andy Mudd and Susan Warner, to get the shot.
The duke was out for the first time since the Canadian government announced they would not be paying for the couple’s security after they stop royal duties.
The royals teased the visit with a video on their account last week, in which they mocked up a jokey exchange centred around Bon Jovi having an idea for how to spend some of his time in the UK.
The duke looked relaxed as he met Bon Jovi on the steps at Abbey Road before they were shown into the control room overlooking Studio 2 - where The Beatles recorded during the 1960s.
Sussex Royal also shared a picture of Harry with a guitar, next to Bon Jovi.
The pair had a private meeting, after which the duke joked with an engineer: “We’ve been gargling next door, so we’re ready to go.”
Read more: Canada to stop paying Harry and Meghan's security costs in coming weeks
The song Unbroken was originally written by Bon Jovi to draw attention to veterans living with post-traumatic stress disorder and mark their service.
He has a close link with the military as both of his parents served in the US Marine Corps.
The Invictus Games is one of the projects Harry has been most passionate about, founding it to give injured or sick military personnel an international multi-sport event.
Last year, Bon Jovi wrote to the prince to offer to re-record the song for the games.
Read more: Prince Harry is 'relaxed' and 'defiant' over future, says Travalyst conference host
While the prince and the popstar met, Buckingham Palace marked the event by playing a medley of Bon Jovi songs during the Changing of the Guard.
Before the recording, Bon Jovi referred to the duke as “the artist formerly known as prince” when he joined Zoe Ball on her show on Radio 2.
Bon Jovi described it as “pretty special” that Harry was joining him in the famous studio in the wake of the Megxit crisis.
“In light of everything that’s gone on in his life, for him to be coming back and this be the first thing on his docket I think was pretty special,” he said.
Read more: 'Call me Harry' says Duke of Sussex as he arrives back in UK for final royal duties
The Duke meets the @InvictusGChoir following performance of the new track Unbroken pic.twitter.com/nDyYEQk1WT
— Invictus Games Foundation (@WeAreInvictus) February 28, 2020
🎺Guard Change at Buckingham Palace!
Today the @ScotsGuardsBand played a special @BonJovi medley to celebrate his collaboration with @WeAreInvictus ! The Queen’s Guard handed over responsibility for protecting Buckingham Palace and St James’s Palace to the New Guard. pic.twitter.com/2KRFDsc2ac— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 28, 2020
Friday’s visit is one of many for Prince Harry as he marks his final month as a senior member of the royal family.
From 31 March, he and his wife Meghan will step back from their duties and will work toward financial independence, not getting any money from the crown.
Prince Harry’s return to the UK started with a trip to Edinburgh where he hosted a conference for his travel project Travalyst.
Next week, the Duchess of Sussex will join him at events such as the Endeavour Fund awards and the Mountbatten Festival of Music.
Read more: Harry and Meghan reveal transition details and confirm end of Sussex Royal branding
