An Iwade schoolboy stepped out to perform his solo singing debut at the Royal Albert Hall, in front of an audience of more than 5,000 including the Duke of Kent.

And if that wasn’t enough, 13-year-old Edward Hyde’s standing ovation was led by acting royalty, Dame Barbara Windsor.

The youngster, of Church Mews in The Street, sang three solos at the annual Christmas with the Stars concert, opening the evening with Once in Royal David’s City with a single spotlight on him in the darkened hall.

He returned to the stage to perform Walking in the Air accompanied by the big band and large choir.

Edward, a former winner of the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Young Chorister of the Year, is Rochester Cathedral’s star chorister but has only just begun to perform on his own.

A rendition of Ave Maria was a specially-arranged piece in which he was accompanied by the Albert Hall organist, Dr Andrew Parmley.

Among the guests were Katja Jones who, with celebrity Joe McFadden won Strictly Come Dancing on Saturday night, her husband, professional dancer Neil Jones and presenters Ore Obuda, who won Strictly last year and Gaby Roslin. Edward’s proud parents Sophie and Phillip Hyde watched their son from the stands.

Broadcaster Frank Renton, the musical director for the evening, spoke to the audience about his earlier interview with Edward.

He said how Edward spoke about his ambition to be a professional musician when he grows up, to which Mr Renton replied: “You are already one.”

A pupil at King’s School in Rochester, he has already landed a string of television, radio performances and recording deals.