King Charles beamed with delight as he witnessed the grand unveiling of the new main stage curtains at the Royal Opera House, a set of mohair velour drapes specially crafted with a design in his honour. The monarch watched on as more than 2,000 guests at the Covent Garden venue in central London erupted in cheers upon catching their first glimpse of the curtains, which feature an exquisite embroidery of the King's personal cipher.
The unveiling, preceded by an introduction from Sir Ian McKellen, marked the beginning of an evening filled with music and dance, as performers took to the stage for the Spring Gala: Stories From The Royal Ballet And The Royal Opera. The previous curtains had opened and closed on more than 10,000 performances since their installation in 1997, and daily wear and tear necessitated a replacement set.
Each of the new mohair velour curtains measures 9.75 metres wide and has a drop of 10.8 metres. The inclusion of the King's cipher symbolises the enduring relationship between the monarchy and the arts, according to executives. The monogram combines his initial 'C' and 'R' for Rex, the Latin for king, plus III, as he is the third King Charles.
Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, described it as 'a privilege' to welcome Charles, who is patron of both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, to the gala. He said the event brought 'together artists from both companies in a shared celebration.' He added: 'The unveiling of the new stage curtains marks an important moment for the organisation, reflecting our continued investment in the future of our stage and in the remarkable craft that underpins every performance.'
Earlier in the evening, Charles met representatives from curtain production specialists Gerriets and the expert embroiderers of the Royal School of Needlework, who helped create the new curtains. He also viewed the original designs alongside intricate embroidery samples. The new curtains were commissioned thanks to a grant from the Julia Rausing Trust, which supports excellence in the arts.
After the show, Charles went backstage to meet the cast and get a closer look at the curtains. Among those he spoke to were Sir Ian, Welsh bass-baritone Sir Bryn Terfel, and South African soprano Pretty Yende, both of whom performed in the show. Ms Yende described it as an 'extraordinary night' and called the Royal Opera House 'one of the most extraordinary opera houses in the world,' adding that 'it is a singer's dream' to perform there.
