In a fun musical interlude, King Charles III played a carrot recorder during a reception at Windsor Castle as part of a performance by the London Vegetable Orchestra in an unorthodox rendition of ‘Twinkle Twinkle Little Star’. During the performance, the King playfully informed the guests that he’d be carrying the carrot instrument home.
The King was told by one of the orchestra members that the recorder was ‘specially made’ and added, ‘we stayed up all night making it’.
Take a look at the viral video:
Celebration of Community Music
The event saw approximately 350 guests attend, including grassroots music organisation and community project leaders from throughout the UK. The purpose of the evening, Buckingham Palace said, was to ‘highlight the work of grassroots groups and projects’ and “celebrate the crucial role music has in making communities stronger and the valuable contribution of those working on developing future musical leaders.”
The London Vegetable Orchestra, which is the UK’s sole band to play only hand-made instruments using local vegetables, played at the reception. The band, which was initiated by Royal Academy of Music students more than a decade ago, now consists of professional musicians. Other than carrots, their instruments are made from a number of different produce, including potatoes, peppers, and swedes.
First Outing after Hospitalization
The appearance was one of the King’s first official outings after his recent hospitalization. Last Thursday, King Charles was taken to the hospital for scheduled cancer treatment after ‘temporary side effects’ needed to be monitored, according to Buckingham Palace. These effects, although unspecified, are deemed a normal aspect of many treatments.
Although the King postponed a planned trip to Birmingham on Friday to devote time to his recovery, he returned to front-line duties on Tuesday. Since February 2024, when Charles was diagnosed with an unknown type of cancer, he has been receiving weekly treatment alongside returning to appearances gradually. His schedule of outings is being meticulously organized and in consultation with his health professionals to prioritize his health.