The Prince of Wales has opened up about his love of classical music and how he has lent out his skills in choosing musical pieces for royal weddings in a special radio programme.
On Monday evening, the first night of a two-part radio programme on Classic FM, Prince Charles revealed that he’d helped choose the music for the wedding ceremony of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.
“I love trying to organize some interesting, I hope, pieces of music for certain occasions…particularly for weddings if people want,” Charles told the station. He added “I know my eldest son was quite understanding and was perfectly happy for me to suggest a few pieces for their wedding.”
He also revealed, “I hope that gave some people pleasure, but it’s rather fun having orchestras in for great occasions like that, and why not suggest a few pieces occasionally? Anyway… I do enjoy it.”
The London Chamber Orchestra, which performed at William and Kate’s wedding, and is one of Camilla’s musical patronages, also appeared on Tuesday evening’s programme.
Among the pieces performed at William and Kate’s wedding, three are noted to have been chosen because they had also been performed at Prince Charles and Camilla’s wedding in 2005. These pieces are “Farewell to Stromness,” “Touch Her Soft Lips and Part” and “Romance for String Orchestra Op. 11.”
And, though it wasn’t classical music, Prince Charles also had a hand in Harry and Meghan’s wedding in 2018. According to Karen Gibson, founder of The Kingdom Choir, the call to invite them to perform at Harry and Meghan’s wedding came from Clarence House.
“I understand that Prince Charles really likes gospel music,” Gibson told the BBC following the wedding. The Kingdom Choir performed a gospel rendition of ‘Stand By Me’ by Ben E. King.
“The couple were very intentional about what they wanted sung and how they wanted it sung, but the actual idea came from Prince Charles – although they were very happy to have gospel music.”
Prince Charles appeared on Classic FM on Monday and Tuesday evening to discuss his love of classical music and to highlight the work of his and Camilla’s musical patronages during the coronavirus pandemic.
