King Charles III showcased his musical side during a visit to Manchester, where he tried his hand at DJing while engaging with young people supported by his charitable foundation. The monarch toured Aviva Studios, the home of Factory International arts organisation, to witness the collaboration between the King's Trust and Factory Academy.
Royal Mixing Session
During the visit, aspiring DJ Christian St Louis, a 22-year-old from Middleton, Greater Manchester, invited the King to try the mixing console. Guiding Charles through the process, Mr St Louis explained the technical aspects of DJ equipment, noting the complexity of the numerous buttons and controls.
"First, you load up the tracks and then play this one," Mr St Louis demonstrated. "There are so many buttons. Once you know what to do, it's easy."
As the King attempted to master the controls, an onlooker observed: "It's not as easy as it looks, is it?" Charles laughed in response, admitting: "I'm trying to get the hang of it."
Transforming Lives Through Creativity
Mr St Louis, who originally hails from east London, told the King that taking a DJing course through the King's Trust had been "more than helpful" in pursuing his passion. "I always wanted to DJ," he said. "Now I know I can do it." The young man revealed he was seeking employment to save money for his own DJ decks, with ambitions to release his own EP recording.
Another beneficiary, 19-year-old Mariama Gallow from Manchester, read her original poetry to the King during the visit. Charles revealed that actor Idris Elba had previously shown him a film featuring Ms Gallow's work, which he praised as "fantastic" and "really, really good."
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 the arts. The programme builds skills and confidence for careers in creative industries, with Idris Elba himself having been supported by the King's Trust (formerly the Prince's Trust) during his teenage years.
Charles also met young people who had learned practical skills in stage construction, including lighting, sound and production techniques, through the Factory Academy based at Aviva Studios. The Creative Futures initiative has already assisted more than 100 young people across Manchester and is expanding to support youth in other UK regions.
Building Creative Pathways
Launched in 2018 by Factory International, the Factory Academy aims to provide accessible career pathways into creative industries while boosting regional creative skills. The academy has collaborated extensively with the King's Trust to deliver programmes from the Creative Futures portfolio.
During his visit, King Charles unveiled a commemorative plaque before enjoying a performance by a choir from the Royal Northern College of Music outside the venue. Despite rainy conditions, the monarch took time to speak with members of the public who had gathered, including child-minder Jodie Pownall from New Mills, Derbyshire, who brought along several young children.
The King posed for photographs with the group, rewarding their dedication in braving the inclement weather to catch a glimpse of the royal visit. The event highlighted the ongoing commitment of the King's Trust to supporting young people's creative ambitions across the United Kingdom.
