William and Kate Send Greetings as King Charles Turns 78

The two chose 14 tracks. They included Hound Dog by Elvis Presley, Phil Collins' In The Air Tonight and Sir Rod Stewart's version of Handbags And Gladrags.

The King called Lenny Kravitz's It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over "rather beautiful". He picked Giant by Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man as the song that sums up his charity, because it is about gaining strength from others.

Bob Dylan's Gotta Serve Somebody and Pete Townshend's Let My Love Open The Door also made the list. So did Muse with Feeling Good, Skye Newman's Hairdresser and Raye's Joy.

Nectar Woode's Wine Into Water, with Sir Elton on piano, was another choice. Sir Elton has backed Woode since she sent him a demo tape at the start of her career. Raye met the King at an engagement with Apple in 2024.

Jokes about getting older

The conversation turned to The King's Trust, which is celebrating its 50th anniversary, and the musicians who support it. Charles recalled the Rock Gala at Wembley Arena in 1986, held for the 10th anniversary of his Trust.

"I suspect that no-one who was present on that night in 1986 could possibly forget your performance of I'm Still Standing," he said. "We and the Trust are definitely still standing."

Sir Elton, 79, quipped: "I'm still sitting now, though." The King laughed and replied: "With occasional bits dropping off here and there."

Asked by Sir Elton for a deeply meaningful song, Charles pointed to All You Need Is Love. He recalled a "simply unforgettable performance" by Sir Paul McCartney and other stars at the finale of the Golden Jubilee concert in the gardens of Buckingham Palace in 2002, held in honor of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

"Well, there can surely be nothing more meaningful than love," the King said.