Teenage singing trio deliver World War II music to the TikTok technology as their cowl variations of Forties songs win thousands and thousands of followers
Most 14-year-olds are avid fans of Taylor Swift and Charli XCX – but three teens from Yorkshire have turned to the vocals of The Chordettes, Glenn Miller and The Andrews Sisters.
Transporting viewers to World War II-era music, defined by cheerful harmonies and bittersweet lyrics, Siena Ansell, Emilia Foster and Lottie Gray – known as The Duchy Darlings – boast 126,400 followers on social media.
The trio, with their retro curls, pillbox hats and tea dresses went from busking in York city centre to setting their sights on one day performing at the Royal Albert Hall.
They initially came together for what was meant to be a one-time performance at Ripon Cathedral in May 2025 for the 80th anniversary of VE Day, arranged by their vocal coach Helen Leaf.
But their success has grown, and after releasing their debut single the girls are powering through a packed schedule of performances at care homes, weddings and, most recently, Christmas markets.
Clips racking up thousands of views on TikTok include pitch-perfect renditions of Mr Sandman, Chattanooga Choo Choo and Oh Johnny Oh!
One clip, which has been viewed by 1.3 million people, showed the heartwarming moment a 90-year-old man in a nursing home started singing along to the girls’ cover of Vera Lynn’s A Nightingale Sang In Berkeley Square.
The fame has been exciting, but one of the most important things for the girls has been connecting with different generations.
Left to right: Emilia Foster, Siena Ansell, and Lottie Gray – who are known as The Duchy Darlings
They have since become a hit in their own right with a debut single out, and are powering through a packed schedule of performances at care homes, weddings and, most recently, Christmas markets
‘People say music is the best way to bring back memories,’ Siena, 15, who sings soprano, told The Times. ‘And there’s definitely been a lot of encounters where we’ve brought out something from people in care homes that they maybe couldn’t remember. It’s really special.’
It’s also not just older folks who have resonated with the vintage sound.
‘Seeing on social media people our age thinking this is cool, liking our videos, following along with our journey, it’s amazing we can bring that to them,’ she continued.
‘What we’re doing proves to young people you don’t have to just stick with all the current trends, you can be positive, you can sing about lovely things, young buglers or vintage things.’
The band also enjoys the costuming element of their performances. In TikTok comments, the girls revealed that Lottie’s mother sorts out their 40s and 50s-inspired ensembles, and the parents also appear to be behind their old-school hairdos.
Since coming together less than a year ago, the girls have expanded their repertoire to the 60s too, and even further on, including covers of hits like Corinne Bailey Rae’s 2006 track, Put Your Records On.
Lottie, 13, who takes the alto, in a BBC interview explained that being in the group has encouraged an interest in history for her as well.
‘There are things that happened in the past that I don’t think I understand yet, so I’m going to try and find out more so I can completely understand,’ she explained.
The band also enjoys the costuming element of their performances. In TikTok comments, the girls revealed that Lottie’s mother sorts out their 40s and 50s-inspired ensembles, and the parents also appear to be behind their old-school hairdos
The girls’ success has continued to accumulate since last year, when they went viral before even taking to the stage for their VE Day performance, as Lottie’s sister posted a video of their rehearsal
The girls’ success has continued to accumulate since last year, when they went viral before even taking to the stage for their VE Day performance, as Lottie’s sister posted a video of their rehearsal.
‘We’ve been amazed at how much we’ve blown up online,’ Emilia, 14, who sings the mezzo, said.
‘We went busking in York city centre and we had people coming up to us after saying “I’ve seen you on TikTok, I’ve seen you on Instagram” and asking us for a picture.’
Their debut single – a cover of The Andrews Sisters’ Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy – came out in August.
YouTube commenters couldn’t believe how the trio were able to ‘time travel back to the 40s’.
‘My mom graduated from high school in 1945. She also helped in a munitions plant during the war. This was her generation’s music,’ one touched listener penned. ‘Thank you ladies. You did an excellent job!’
‘Oh man! I love this,’ another gushed. ‘If my grandmother was still alive I know she would love this. She was in her 20s in the 1940s. She loved this music, and she would have loved to see this.’
A third praised: ‘So wonderful to see young people pay homage to our greatest generation! Keep their spirit alive!’
