King Charles Tries DJing and Champions Circular Economy in Manchester Visit
King Charles showcased his musical side and environmental advocacy during a busy visit to Manchester, where he tried his hand at DJing and launched a significant circular economy initiative.
Royal Remix at Aviva Studios
The King visited Aviva Studios, home to Factory International, where he met young people supported by the King's Trust charity. Aspiring DJ Christian St Louis, 22, from Middleton, Greater Manchester, invited Charles to try the mixing decks.
"First, you load up the tracks and then play this one... there are so many buttons. Once you know what to do, it's easy," explained Mr St Louis as he guided the King through the process.
An onlooker remarked, "It's not as easy as it looks, is it?" to which Charles laughed and replied, "I'm trying to get the hang of it."
Mr St Louis, who took a DJing course through the King's Trust, told the monarch the experience had been "more than helpful" and that he now knows he can pursue his DJing ambitions.
Creative Futures Programme
The King's Trust joined forces with the Elba Hope Foundation in 2024 to launch Creative Futures, a series of free courses designed to inspire young people through arts education. Actor Idris Elba, who was supported by the King's Trust as a teenager, founded the charity with his wife Sabrina.
Another beneficiary, Mariama Gallow, 19, from Manchester, read her poetry to the King. Charles told her he had already seen her work, which Elba had shown him on film, describing it as "fantastic. Really, really good."
The King also met young people who learned stage construction skills through the Factory Academy based at Aviva Studios. Creative Futures has helped over 100 young people across Manchester and is expanding to other UK regions.
Circular Economy Launch
Later, Charles launched Circularity in Practice, a new initiative promoting the repurposing and reuse of items to reduce waste. The nationwide project encourages UK businesses to adopt circular economy principles.
"Let's hope you can make a real movement out of it, now you have signed up," Charles told business leaders gathered at the event.
At the Renew Hub on Trafford Park, run by waste and recycling firm Suez, the King used a compression staple gun to finish reupholstering a French-style settee with fabric from London's Royal Opera House.
Paul Cunliffe, 56, from Winstanley, Wigan, who teaches upholstery skills to volunteers, said afterwards: "It was all right, I was just, obviously, you don't want him shooting himself. I think he's supportive, very supportive."
Environmental Impact
The Renew Hub, launched in 2021, is the UK's largest reuse and repair facility. It has already refurbished and recycled 500,000 items, raising £1.6 million for charity over four years through sales in Altrincham, Oldham, and Salford shops and online.
John Scanlon, chief executive of Suez, who accompanied Charles, noted: "His Majesty has been super passionate about the environment and really wanting to champion how we can make sure that items that other people discard become a real valuable raw material going forward."
Scanlon added that the King's scheduled visit overran because he was "really keen to talk to lots of the volunteers who work here to understand what they're doing and how they're making things more circular."
Community Engagement
Earlier in the day, Charles was greeted by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester, Councillor Jane Brophy, Mayor of Trafford, and Michelle Pinggera, chair of the Circularity in Practice Initiative.
Before leaving Aviva Studios, the King unveiled a commemorative plaque and enjoyed a performance by a choir from the Royal Northern College of Music. He also spoke with members of the public, including child-minder Jodie Pownall from New Mills, Derbyshire, who brought six young children to meet the monarch.
The visit highlighted both the King's support for youth arts education through the King's Trust and his longstanding commitment to environmental sustainability through practical circular economy initiatives.
