King Charles attended the grand unveiling of new main stage curtains at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, which feature an embroidery of his personal cipher. The event, introduced by Sir Ian McKellen, marked the beginning of the Spring Gala: Stories From The Royal Ballet And The Royal Opera, with more than 2,000 guests in attendance.
The previous curtains, installed in 1997, had been used for over 10,000 performances before daily wear necessitated their replacement. The new mohair velour curtains each measure 9.75 metres wide with a 10.8-metre drop. The King's cipher, combining 'C' and 'R' for Rex (Latin for king) and 'III', symbolises the enduring relationship between the monarchy and the arts, according to executives.
Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, described it as 'a privilege' to welcome Charles, who is patron of both companies. He added that the unveiling reflects 'continued investment in the future of our stage and in the remarkable craft that underpins every performance.' The curtains were commissioned thanks to a grant from the Julia Rausing Trust.
Earlier, Charles met representatives from curtain production specialists Gerriets and embroiderers from the Royal School of Needlework, who helped create the curtains. He also viewed original designs and embroidery samples. After the show, the King went backstage to meet the cast, including Sir Ian McKellen, Sir Bryn Terfel, and Pretty Yende, who described the night as 'extraordinary.'
