King to appear on Sir Elton John’s Rocket Hour radio show on Apple Music

Detailed summary

The episode, in which the monarch and singer share musical memories, will be on aired on Charles’ 78th birthday on Saturday.

The King and Sir Elton John have recorded an hour-long special episode of the singer’s Apple Radio show Rocket Hour, which will air on the monarch’s 78th birthday on Saturday.

Charles and Sir Elton sat down in secret at the Apple Music Studios in Battersea Power Station in south London last month for the musical collaboration.

The conversation for Sir Elton’s regular show was held to highlight the key role of music in the work of the monarch’s charity The King’s Trust, which is celebrating its 50th year.

The King described it as “an opportunity too good to resist”, while Sir Elton admitted afterwards: “I learnt a lot from speaking to His Majesty.”

Charles also thanked Sir Elton for adding “a little Rocket Power to the proceedings” and praised the pop star for becoming “such a national treasure after all these years”.

Sir Elton quipped “I’ll be on the Antiques Roadshow”, with the King laughing and retorting “Join the club”.

The pair shared memories of performances by some of music’s biggest stars in support of the trust over the last five decades – from Wembley Arena rock galas of the 1980s through to pop concerts in Hyde Park and sold-out charity shows at the Royal Albert Hall.

The episode also highlighted some of those who received help from the trust in their early days, including Muse, who were given a grant from the-then Prince’s Trust to purchase PA equipment when they were starting out as a band under the name Rocket Baby Dolls.

Sir Elton told the King: “I never knew that some of these musicians were involved in the trust. It’s great news to me… and it reinforces for me all the great work that you’ve done all these 50 years, because I had no idea. So bravo.”

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