King Charles III marked his 78th birthday on Saturday by appearing on Elton John’s Apple Music radio show, “Rocket Hour,” to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust.
Recorded at Apple Music’s studios at Battersea Power Station in London, the special program brought the monarch and the musician together to discuss youth programs, music history, and aging. The Royal Household’s announcement set the first broadcast for 9 a.m. GMT, or 4 a.m. Eastern and 1 a.m. Pacific. Charles described the opportunity to join the program as an opportunity too good to resist.
Prince William and Kate Middleton joined in celebrating the monarch on Saturday via Instagram Stories, reposting a message from the official Royal Family account that featured a picture of the King smiling alongside Elton John and the text, Wishing a very Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King! Elton John also joined in the birthday wishes in the comments section, writing, “Happy Birthday to His Majesty!”
During the conversation, Charles singled out John’s hit song “I’m Still Standing” for its enduring message of resilience. We and the Trust are definitely still standing, the King said. The monarch mentioned that listeners across diverse backgrounds find the track uplifting, praising both its wonderful tone and its theme of perseverance forty years after that memorable performance, while saying that he and the Trust remain firmly on their feet.
John offered a lighthearted reply. “I’m still sitting now, though,” he said, prompting laughter from the monarch, who added that with occasional bits dropping off here and there, as people grow older.
The King continued the lighthearted conversation by saying, I know this is a terrible problem as we get older. The conversation comes as both men have faced health challenges in recent years, with Charles receiving treatment for cancer and John speaking publicly about problems with his eyesight.
Looking Back at Five Decades
The Trust’s programs deal with longer transitions, such as building confidence to look for work or getting guidance to turn business ideas into plans.
John, who was knighted in 1998 by the late Queen Elizabeth II, performed at the charity’s 10th-anniversary concert at Wembley in 1986. During the radio special, the musician said that supporting youth is a lifelong passion of the monarch’s that holds immense significance for music and the cultural arts, telling him that his sustained efforts are a remarkable personal achievement worthy of high praise.
Charles was grateful for the musician’s kind words, while John said that he was excited to hear what the King would say about music, the nonprofit, and the memories they both share, noting in a caption that it was a great privilege to welcome the King to his show to mark an anniversary that has transformed the lives of countless young people.
The broadcast featured 14 musical selections chosen together by the King and John, including tracks by the Beatles, Elvis Presley, Tina Turner, Rod Stewart, and RAYE, alongside appearances from London singer Nectar Woode and Skye Newman. Opening the show with Tina Turner’s “Proud Mary,” the King described the late singer as an extremely energetic personality and recalled that after her death in 2023, the guard outside Buckingham Palace played her hit “Simply the Best” as a small thank-you for her performances at charitable events and the joy she brought to millions of people.
Reflecting on the Beatles song “All You Need Is Love,” Charles recalled Paul McCartney’s performance at the Golden Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II in 2002, saying, Nothing is more meaningful than love. John also shared that he felt fortunate in life to have met all the members of the Beatles, who later became his friends.
Sharing Birthday Tributes
Prince William and Kate Middleton marked the day by sharing a birthday message on Instagram Stories, reposting an official royal account image of Charles and John alongside the caption, Happy Birthday to His Majesty The King! Prince William and Kate Middleton also wished King Charles III a happy 78th birthday in an Instagram post.
The birthday follows a public engagement on Nov. 13, where Charles visited London’s Surrey Street Market in Croydon during its 750th anniversary year, receiving a birthday cake and greeting crowds. The birthday cake was inscribed with the words “Happy Birthday Your Majesty.” According to the Express, the King is believed to be celebrating his birthday privately with his wife, Queen Camilla.