Prince Charles: The singer of Three Degrees reveals everything about the disco Prince | Royal | New

When Prince Charles turns 70, there will be a very special birthday message among all cards. It was recorded by The Three Degrees, the glamorous American trio of disco soul and disco that produced at his request during his 30th birthday party while he was the single most eligible single in the world . Valerie Holiday, 69 and under, who celebrated her 50th birthday last year with the group and is the oldest member in the world, will never forget that glittering November night of 1978.

"It was a very special occasion, the first time I went to Buckingham Palace I thought," Wow! "Charles told us that he loved our music, we also met several other members of the royal family, they were all there."

The heir to the throne was so captivated by the performance that he jumped to join the girls, right. "He went on stage and danced with us – he was a good mover!" So it was not stuffy? "No!" she laughs.

The band was nicknamed Charlie's Angels thanks to his royal fan.

The former singer Sheila Ferguson – who left the band in 1986 – even had romantic relationships with Charles.

However, speaking about their meeting on ITV's Loose Women last year, Ferguson said: "It was a womanizer, I did not want to be a step up on her bed. a little more than that. "

She also claimed that Charles later sent her letters.

While they were invited to the wedding reception of Charles and Diana in 1981, the Three Degrees had no contact with Charles for some time, but jumped at the opportunity to perform again for him.

Meanwhile, the trio – whose current incarnation is Valerie, Helen Scott, 70 (who joined in 1976 after leaving in 1966 to have children) and the newcomer Freddie Pool, 72 (who gets there is joined in 2011) – recorded a message for Charles.

"It's only a greeting wishing her a happy birthday," says Valerie.

"We hope he'll hear it!"

Charles was not the only British admirer of the Three Degrees. Between 1974 and 1985, they achieved 13 successes among the 50 most successful, including the winners When am I going to see you again and Woman in love, Year of decision, My simple heart, Take good care of yourself and Givin Up Givin & # 39; in.

The band members were renowned for their deep vocal harmonies as well as for their sophisticated visual image, synchronized choreography and elegant appearance in their tight dresses.

It was quite a contrast to the feminine image of the early 70's at the platform sole, dressed in brown and dressed in brown – the opposite of the contemporary Suzi Quatro pop with its leather tomboy suits.

This is a branded look that they maintain to this day.

"Yeah, love those glitter," said Valerie, married to an Englishman and who has a 26-year-old son.

She added: "We were wearing very hot pants, but they were not your Daisy Dukes, there was nothing hanging on them, they were short, but presentable." We had a lot of legs, but you We did not have any breasts hanging in. We've always thought modesty was important. "

Dirty Ol's Man, one of their first big hits in 1973, tells of a young suitor's harassment by an older suitor.

Have they had # MeToo moments?

Valerie says: "It was only a song, but at that time everything was fine, because we were in our twenties and we were still very young and innocent." Our manager was our solution intermediary between us and everything that was trying to pass. "

They were hit on some occasions, but they managed to fend for themselves.

"Of course, you sometimes had your dirty old man, you were standing up there with your arms around people for a photo and his hand was sliding further down, and you had to correct them and say," Excuse me. me & # 39 ;.

Valerie says that supporting the youngest women in the music industry has always been important to The Three Degrees.

"We were trying to set an example for all women who wanted to enter the industry," she says.

"Whenever we had the opportunity, we always asked women to ensure that you are legally protected because it is a company that does not offer you much protection. At all levels, you really have to defend yourself. "

The group also did not experience much racial discrimination, says Valerie. "We were born during the period of discrimination, we did not escape everything, but we escaped from it.Our manager has made sure that it is very, very selective as to the place where we played."

At the beginning of their career, the Degrees even had a cameo role that sang a song in a disco in the 1971 thriller, The French Connection.

"For three minutes!" said Valerie.

They also shot in support of Engelbert Humperdinck.

Today, they are still shooting internationally – "We still love it," says Valerie – and will be seen next year in the UK in theaters, including Wembley, as part of the 40 Years Of Disco UK tour with other bands from the 1970s, such as The Village People and Tramps.

Would they want to see Prince Charles at one of the dates?

"Now it would be funny." said Valerie.