King Charles Picks His Songs on Elton John's Rocket Hour

King Charles has appeared on Rocket Hour, the Apple Radio show presented by Elton John, in a special recorded episode. The episode marked 50 years of the King's Trust, the youth charity the King set up in 1976 as the Prince's Trust. The Guardian reported that the King also marked his 78th birthday with the appearance.

The King chose a playlist of songs for the show, and the list ranged across decades of pop and rock. He picked Elton John's own "I'm Still Standing", and Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man's "Giant". He also chose Rod Stewart's version of "Handbags and Gladrags" and Muse's version of "Feeling Good".

Some of the picks came with a story attached. Elton John performed "I'm Still Standing" at a Rock Gala in 1986, held to mark the trust's 10th anniversary. The King also chose "In the Air Tonight" as a tribute to Phil Collins, who was being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist. He described the Beatles' "All You Need Is Love" as an extremely meaningful song.

The trust's links to the music world run back decades. The Stereophonics began their career with help from the King's Trust. A group then known as the Rocket Baby Dolls received a small grant from the trust in 1994 to buy audio equipment. That band later became Muse, the rock group whose version of "Feeling Good" the King picked.

Elton John's own choice for the episode was Elvis Presley's "Hound Dog".

For listeners, the episode works as a guided tour of the trust's history through the records its supporters and alumni have loved. Each song on the list carries a name, a year or a grant attached to it, so the playlist doubles as a timeline. The King's appearance was recorded for the show rather than broadcast live.