The Royal Family may boast a surprising range of musical tastes, but Princess Anne has made it clear that rapping will not be joining her repertoire.
The Princess Royal, 75, gently sidestepped an invitation to learn the art form while hosting an investiture ceremony at St James’s Palace on Thursday. Among those receiving honours was Bhishma Asare, an English teacher from Croydon, who was awarded an MBE for services to education and mental health awareness.
Mr Asare, a long-time rapper, founded Rap Therapy – a programme that encourages young people to explore emotions and wellbeing through creative writing and performance. During a brief conversation with the princess, he explained how pupils are encouraged to write explicitly about feelings to help them understand and articulate their emotions.
“I jokingly suggested that maybe I could teach her to rap,” he said afterwards. “She told me she used to sing – and that was about it. Then she smiled and said her time was up.”
The exchange was warmly received and very much in keeping with Anne’s reputation for brisk good humour. While she is among the most industrious of working royals, music has never featured prominently among her personal interests.
The King’s sister is better known for her sporting achievements, particularly her lifelong passion for horses. In 1976 she became the first member of the Royal Family to compete at the Olympic Games and won team gold at the European Eventing Championships five years earlier.
It was not the first time Anne has politely declined a late-life musical challenge. At an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle last year she was encouraged by the celebrated organist Anna Lapwood to try playing the instrument. The princess reportedly replied: “No, I haven’t – I think it’s a bit late.”
Musical enthusiasm appears stronger elsewhere in the family. The Princess of Wales is a competent pianist, having reached grade three practical and grade five theory, and her daughter Princess Charlotte, now ten, has begun lessons of her own. The pair recently performed a short piano duet together for the Together at Christmas carol service recorded at Windsor Castle.
Prince George is said to play the guitar, while Prince Louis has taken up the drums – suggesting that rhythm, if not rap, may yet thrive among the younger generation.
Perhaps the most unexpected royal musical allegiance belonged to the late Duchess of Kent, who revealed in a rare interview in 2022 that she was a fan of gangsta rap. Giving the interview at the age of 90, Katharine named Ice Cube and Eminem among her favourite artists.
“I’ll listen to anything,” she said at the time. “If it makes my feet tap, then I’m happy.”
For Princess Anne, however, it appears that rapping will remain firmly off the royal schedule.
