King Charles celebrated his 78th birthday by joining Sir Elton John on Apple Music’s Rocket Hour for a special broadcast marking the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trust.
The monarch shared an eclectic 14-track playlist and swapped lighthearted banter about aging with the singer.
“I’m still sitting now, though,” Elton John joked during the recorded conversation, prompting the King to laugh and add that he noticed “occasional bits dropping off here and there” with age, The Daily Mail reported.
Charles said that appearing on Rocket Hour was “an opportunity too good to resist”, and said that musicians had been hugely important in maintaining the charity over the years by raising money through performances.
The 1986 Wembley Gala
The musical partnership harks back decades to charity galas and royal performances. Charles highlighted Elton John’s 1986 hit “I’m Still Standing” as a favourite representing resilience for the youth charity he established in 1976.
“I suspect that no-one who was present on that night in 1986 could possibly forget your performance of I’m Still Standing,” King Charles said, according to the BBC. “And certainly, 40 years on from that remarkable concert, we and the Trust are definitely still standing.”
Eclectic Musical Selections
The playlist featured a mix of classic rock anthems and modern chart hits. Charles selected Calvin Harris and Rag’n’Bone Man’s track “Giant”, The Telegraph said.
Other royal picks included Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” and Rod Stewart’s rendition of “Handbags and Gladrags”. The monarch also noted how a small 1994 grant helped an early incarnation of the band Muse buy audio equipment before they achieved global stadium fame.
Charles also chose The Beatles’ “All You Need Is Love” as a song he found extremely meaningful, recalling the magic of witnessing a performance of the track at the Party at the Palace concert for his late mother’s Golden Jubilee.
Frequently Asked Questions
When was the radio special recorded?
The program was recorded last month at Apple Music Studios in Battersea Power Station, south London, as reported by the BBC.
How can listeners access the broadcast?
The episode streams on Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits across the weekend before becoming available on-demand for free download on the platform, according to The Guardian.
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