Katherine Jenkins’ show for Pope Francis did go on after all yesterday evening, after lost luggage almost scuppered her appearance at the pontiff’s Christmas concert.
The Welsh classical singer had warned on Thursday she might have to pull out of the Pope’s annual Christmas concert after her bags went missing en route to Rome.
However, she later said on Instagram that “the show must go on” and so as “not to let anyone down, I would have gone on in a bath robe if necessary”.
But the 42-year-old said she was reunited with her missing belongings, including her dress for the show, just before she went on stage for the annual concert at the Auditorium Conciliazione.
She told her 118,000 Instagram followers: “Thankfully the dresses arrived 20 mins before the performance” on Saturday.
She had been forced to wear “trainers” while a nearby orchestra member wore “tuxedo tails” during Friday’s “filmed dress rehearsal” in front of an audience, she said on Instagram.
But she later wrote: “Basilica of San Francesco d’Assisi – What a place of beauty: in the town, in the basilica, in the people & in the music.
“Thank you for having me and Merry Christmas! (The concert is aired on TV on Christmas Day after the Pope’s address).
“I live by the motto that ‘the show must go on’ and so as not to let anyone down, I would have gone on in a bath robe if necessary but thankfully the dresses arrived 20 mins before the performance.
“A Christmas miracle one of the brother’s said!”
Jenkins had expressed her frustration on Twitter on Thursday, writing: “OMG! @British_Airways have lost my bags AGAIN!
She added: “I feel so let down as I will not be able to perform. Please sort this out.”
In response to the post, the official British Airways Twitter account replied with a tweet asking Jenkins to send a direct message and contact details so the company could attempt to track down her lost luggage.
A spokesman British Airways had said: “We’re doing everything we can to reunite our customer with their delayed baggage as soon as possible.
“We apologise for the inconvenience caused.”