Royal bops: King Charles III shares personal music playlist

Ever wondered what King Charles III listens to?

Well, speculate no more.

King Charles has recorded his Apple Music radio show, named “The King's Music Room”, in his office at Buckingham Palace. The one-off show, released as “an interesting and innovative way” to celebrate Commonwealth Day according to the monarch, will feature the king sharing “songs which have brought (him) joy”, as well as anecdotes on the impact music has had on him.

"Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others,” he said. “It has that remarkable ability to bring happy memories flooding back from the deepest recesses of our memory, to comfort us in times of sadness, and to take us to distant places.”

"But perhaps, above all, it can lift our spirits to such a degree, and all the more so when it brings us together in celebration. In other words, it brings us joy."

So, which artists have made the cut?  

Apple did not reveal the full playlist ahead of the show's release on Monday 10 March, but we do know that Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue, Grace Jones, Nigerian-American singer Davido and recent Oscar-performer RAYE all feature in the king’s top tracks.  

A trailer released today features the 76-year-old monarch introducing the project from behind a desk inside Buckingham Palace, intercut with a band of military guardsmen in the palace courtyard playing Marley’s reggae classic ‘Could You Be Loved’.

In 2021, Charles revealed songs by The Three Degrees, Diana Ross, Leonard Cohen and Edith Piaf were among his favourites. 

“The King's Music Room” will be broadcast on Apple Music 1 to mark Commonwealth Day on Monday 10 March.  

Additional sources • Apple Music