King Charles and Sir Elton Joke About Age on Rocket Hour Birthday Show
King Charles joined Sir Elton John on Apple Radio's Rocket Hour to mark his 78th birthday. They joked about getting older, chose 14 songs and tied the playlist to The King's Trust, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
King Charles and Sir Elton John joked about getting older on Rocket Hour, the singer's Apple Radio show, in a special broadcast marking the monarch's 78th birthday. The pair chose 14 tracks, and the King used the slot to highlight the work of The King's Trust, his charity.
Charles picked Sir Elton's hit "I'm Still Standing" for its "message of resilience". The Trust is celebrating its 50th anniversary. "We and the Trust are definitely still standing," the King said.
Sir Elton, 79, laughed and replied: "I'm still sitting now, though." The King chuckled. "With occasional bits dropping off here and there. I know this is a terrible problem as we get older."
A song from 1986
Charles said the track takes listeners back to 1986 and the Rock Gala at Wembley Arena, held for the 10th anniversary of his Trust. He suspected that no one present that night "could possibly forget" Sir Elton's performance of the song.
The King said people in all kinds of circumstances find it inspiring. Forty years on from that concert, he said, the Trust is "definitely still standing".
The playlist
The list ranged widely. It included Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog", Lenny Kravitz's "It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over", which the King described as "rather beautiful", and Phil Collins' "In The Air Tonight". Sir Rod Stewart's rendition of "Handbags And Gladrags" also made the cut.
Charles chose "Giant" by Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man as the song that summed up his charity. He said it reflected the spirit of gaining strength from others.
Bob Dylan's "Gotta Serve Somebody" and Pete Townshend's "Let My Love Open The Door" were also chosen. So were Muse's "Feeling Good", Skye Newman's "Hairdresser", Raye's "Joy" and Nectar Woode's "Wine Into Water", which features Sir Elton on piano.
Sir Elton has supported Woode since the start of her career, when she sent him a demo tape. Raye met the King at an engagement with Apple in 2024.
"Nothing more meaningful than love"
Sir Elton asked the King to name a song he finds extremely meaningful. Charles said there was "nothing more meaningful than love" and chose "All You Need Is Love" by The Beatles.
He said it takes listeners back to 1967, when it was the anthem of the "Summer of Love". It was a number one on both sides of the Atlantic and a huge hit worldwide. He also recalled the single's record sleeve, with John, George, Paul and Ringo "all sporting magnificent moustaches".
The King then described a "simply unforgettable performance" of the song at the Party At The Palace concert, held in the gardens of Buckingham Palace for the Golden Jubilee of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2002. He named Sir Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart and Joe Cocker among the performers, and said he thought Phil Collins was on drums, with Brian May and Eric Clapton on guitar.
"It really is a totally timeless song with a timeless message," Charles said.
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