King Charles Attempts DJing in Manchester During Creative Arts Promotion
King Charles, known for his musical talents on piano, trumpet, and cello from university days, faced a new challenge today as he tried his hand at DJing. The 77-year-old monarch visited Aviva Studios in Manchester to support Creative Futures, a series of free courses aimed at inspiring young people through the arts. This initiative is a collaboration between the King's Trust and The Elba Hope Foundation.
A Royal DJ Lesson with Christian St Louis
During the King's Trust event, Charles was given a quick lesson in song-mixing by budding DJ Christian St Louis. A video from the session showed the King operating the decks under instruction, appearing delighted when the song changed successfully. The local DJ clapped for His Majesty, while Daily Mail Royal Editor Rebecca English quipped, "It's not as easy as it looks, is it?"—prompting a smile from Charles.
Today's visit was designed to highlight the partnership between the King's Trust and the Factory Academy, which delivers the Creative Futures programme. As Charles arrived at Aviva Studios, he was greeted by cheers from fans, a stark contrast to the tense encounter with anti-monarchist protesters during Commonwealth Day celebrations last week.
Contrast with Recent Anti-Monarchy Protests
On March 9, at Westminster Abbey, King Charles noticed members of the Republic pressure group holding signs reading "Not My King" and "What Did You Know." The anti-royalists questioned the King and other senior royals about the scandal involving disgraced former prince Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor's friendship with paedophile Jeffrey Epstein. In Manchester, however, photos showed Charles meeting well-wishers outside the studios before his DJ lesson, indicating a much warmer reception.
Broader Royal Engagements: Indigenous Leaders and WWII Veteran
This visit follows a historic private meeting at Buckingham Palace last Wednesday, March 11, where Charles met with First Nation leaders from Saskatchewan. The seven Treaty 6 leaders travelled to London after formally inviting the monarch to the 150th anniversary of the treaty's signing in Fort Carlton, Canada. Chief Larry Ahenakew of Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation, who first wrote to the King in November 2024, described the meeting as "exciting" and "historic." The leaders planned to gift Charles beaded moccasins and a personalised invitation to the anniversary event.
During the same private audience, the King welcomed 105-year-old Second World War Mosquito Bomber pilot Flight Lieutenant Colin Bell to Buckingham Palace. Charles presented Bell with a Distinguished Flying Cross, originally awarded by his grandfather King George VI in 1945. Bell, the last surviving pilot to have flown the de Havilland Mosquito aircraft, shared a copy of his memoir, Bloody Dangerous, which recounts his heroic service during 50 raids over Germany.
In his book, Bell addresses criticism of Bomber Command's attacks on German cities like Dresden, noting the horrors of war on both sides. He served with the RAF's 608 Squadron in the Light Night Striking Force, using cutting-edge navigational technologies that later influenced commercial air travel. His final raid over Berlin in March 1945 occurred just before his 24th birthday, with his Mosquito shot down two days later, resulting in the deaths of both crew members.
Overall, King Charles's Manchester visit underscores his commitment to promoting arts and education, while recent engagements highlight his diplomatic efforts with indigenous communities and honouring military veterans, all amidst ongoing public scrutiny.
