King Charles turns radio DJ with commemorative show celebrating music and the Commonwealth

King Charles III has shared his favourite songs in a new music program called The King’s Music Room on Apple Music Radio where the monarch celebrates the tunes that informed his broad taste in music.

Featuring an eclectic mix of songs, from 1930s standards to disco, reggae and Afrobeat, the program is being released as “an interesting and innovative way” to celebrate Commonwealth Day.

On the show, King Charles said his collection included “songs which have brought me joy” and included tracks by Bob Marley, Grace Jones and Kylie Minogue.

“Throughout my life, music has meant a great deal to me. I know that is also the case for so many others,” King Charles 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.”

Recorded in the King’s office at Buckingham Palace, the program celebrates the Commonwealth of Nations, an association of member states across five continents, most of which were former territories of the British Empire.

Like his mother before him, King Charles became ceremonial head of the association upon his accession to the throne, however, this latest release from Buckingham Palace shows that the king is determined to do things his way and make the monarchy more relatable.

Just like the time he tried his hand at American football and learned how to throw a football like a quarterback.

During a recent visit to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in north London, as part of a community event sponsored by the Premier League club and the NFL, the King got some throwing advice from Phoebe Schecter, captain of Britain’s women’s flag football team. It wasn’t long before the King gave it a go himself.

Efe Obada, a British-Nigerian defensive end who played for the Washington Commanders for the past three seasons, praised the King for getting “stuck in” and for having good energy on the day.

“His technique wasn’t immaculate, I wanted him to get a little closer to the target so he could get it in but he was having a great time and got a good reception,” Obada said.

– with AP.