Classical singer Katherine Jenkins has performed for the Pope and racked up royal fans, and now she’s set to wow audiences in Kent at the Mote Park Proms.

Katherine, who has been crowned the biggest selling classical artist of the century, will perform an evening of spectacular live music as part of the Park Live series in Maidstone.

“I’m very much looking forward to visiting Kent for the concert at Mote Park this year,” says Katherine excitedly. “I love the summer concerts, they’re always just such a celebration. It’s lovely to be out in a beautiful location with a full orchestra and to see people really enjoying themselves after everything that’s happened.”

It was inevitable that the lockdown memories would come flooding back during our conversation, as this summer is the first time many artists like Katherine have been able to perform in front of large crowds again.

However, despite having streamed a series of concerts from home during lockdown, Katherine explained how she sees her Mote Park performance as a way to help people to move on from the past couple of years.

“I think going through the pandemic and doing all the at-home concerts, you wondered if you’d ever get back to seeing people face-to-face again,” says the 41-year-old singer. “I think being out there now is kind of putting all of that behind us and giving people a really good night out.

“I want to just, for a couple of hours, entertain them, make them have a fabulous night, because I think that’s what’s deserved.”

Katherine, who last performed in Kent at the Music On The Hill festival in Kings Hill, near West Malling, back in 2011, admits that even though she loves performing her outdoor concerts, she’s a little envious of the crowd who get to sit back and enjoy the show.

“I think we do these kinds of concerts really well in the UK,” she says proudly. “People seem to really go for it and get in the spirit. To see people get in the mood, come prepared - they might be sat there with a bottle of wine or a picnic - I actually look out and think, that looks quite nice. I’d like to be doing that!”

While we joke that perhaps Katherine might get a chance to sneak out to watch a concert this summer, it seems unlikely as her schedule is jam-packed - particularly with a right royal performance just around the corner.

Katherine will be performing a one-off concert at none other than Sandringham, the Queen’s very own country retreat in Norfolk, over the bank holiday. She is known for being a fan favourite among the royal family and recently kicked off the celebrations with a performance at the Platinum Jubilee Concert at Windsor.

However, it sounds like Katherine will be delivering performances fit for royalty all summer long, as she is currently working out a setlist that will win over all sorts of crowds, from lifelong fans of classical music to those making their proms debut.

“I’m going to be singing songs that are from all my albums, but with all the proms stuff at the end,” she says. “I’m from such a normal background in Wales, I didn’t grow up in a household that listened to opera or classical music.

“Whether it’s Phantom of the Opera or the Greatest Showman, or a classical version of a pop song like I Will Always Love You, there are so many great pieces out there that sound amazing with a full orchestra. By the time we get to the end of the evening we’ve usually got the audience singing along as well and I love that!”

Katherine will also be joined at the Mote Park Proms by musical theatre group Collabro, best known for covering hits from shows such as Les Misérables and West Side Story.

“Collabro are brilliant!” Katherine, who has performed with Collabro many times in the past, exclaims. “I know the audience are going to love them. I think it’ll be a really nice balance of the classical pieces that are really well known to everybody, through to classical versions of pop songs and musical theatre.”

As we chat about Katherine’s incredible career, from her busy summer schedule to her string of number one albums, West End shows and landmark concerts, it begs the question - what’s next?

“You know, I still look at everything and can’t quite believe that it’s happened, so I always feel greedy to ask for any more,” says the Mezzo Soprano singer. “If I can just keep singing, doing the live shows and summer concerts - I’ve still got two little ones at home, so if I can just keep doing that whilst being mummy, then that’s more than I could ever wish for.”

And will Katherine’s children, aged four and six, be cheering her on at her summer concerts?

“They'll be there waving the flags!” Katherine laughs. “They love it. In fact, my daughter wants to be on stage with me, so she’ll definitely be there cheering me on. She would love nothing more than to be on the stage with me at Mote Park and Sandringham, I’m sure!”

Katherine Jenkins will be at the Mote Park Proms in Maidstone on Saturday, July 23. Book tickets online here.