Elton John is welcoming King Charles III to a special edition of his Apple Music radio show Rocket Hour, airing November 14, 2026, on the monarch’s 78th birthday. Recorded in London last month, the hour-long episode celebrates 50 years of The King’s Trust through music and shared memories. Their selections include songs by Muse, Raye and Skye Newman, alongside stories about landmark benefit concerts and the emerging artists supported by the charity.
King Charles III is taking the guest seat on Elton John‘s Rocket Hour for a conversation that reaches across five decades of British music. The pair have recorded a special episode of the singer’s Apple Music program, bringing together personal memories, favorite recordings and the stories of performers whose careers have intersected with The King’s Trust.
The hour-long broadcast premieres on Saturday, November 14, coinciding with the King’s 78th birthday. Rather than meeting live on the day, Charles and John recorded their conversation in October at the new Apple Music Studios in London’s Battersea Power Station, during a visit connected to a creative education initiative.
A promotional clip shows the two laughing together during the session. Introducing his guest, Elton John expresses his excitement at hearing the King’s thoughts about music, the charity and the experiences they have shared through its events.
The episode is built around their conversation and selected recordings. There has been no announcement of a joint musical performance, with the emphasis instead placed on the artists whose work and charitable involvement have shaped the Trust’s history.
Charles founded the organization in 1976, when he was Prince of Wales. Originally known as The Prince’s Trust, it was established to help disadvantaged young people develop skills, find employment and start businesses. Its 50th anniversary has brought renewed attention to the musicians and entertainment events that have supported its programs.
The King describes music as a longstanding part of the organization’s work. For this broadcast, he wanted to revisit the performers who contributed to its fundraising efforts while highlighting younger artists who received assistance early in their careers.
Those memories include the Prince’s Trust Rock Galas of the 1980s, held at Wembley Arena, as well as subsequent charity performances at Hyde Park and the Royal Albert Hall. The concerts brought established musicians together to raise money and public awareness for the charity’s work.
John has a particularly direct connection to those events. He performed at some of the early Rock Galas and recalls the experience of sharing the stage with other major artists. Looking back, he describes those concerts as among the most enjoyable musical experiences of his career because of the performers involved.
One of the most recognizable success stories discussed in the program is Muse. Long before their international breakthrough, the group performed under the name Rocket Baby Dolls and received a grant from what was then The Prince’s Trust to purchase sound equipment.
The band later returned to support the organization from a very different position. In 2018, Muse played a sold-out benefit concert at London’s Royal Albert Hall, illustrating the continuing relationship between the charity and musicians it had helped during their formative years.
Their recording of “Feeling Good” is among the tracks confirmed for the special broadcast. The song provides one connection between the King’s selections and the charity’s history, although the complete playlist has not yet been published.
Other announced choices include “Joy” by Raye and “Hairdresser” by Skye Newman. Both represent a newer generation of British artists, extending the program beyond a retrospective of established names and historic concerts. The King’s Trust has also featured these performers in its more recent activities and celebrations.
The playlist will span multiple decades and genres. Organizers have described a selection of personal favorites, older recordings and contemporary releases, but the full running order will only be revealed when the episode airs.
Following the recording, Elton John reflected on what he had learned from the conversation. He said that hearing about the performers connected with the charity had reinforced his appreciation of its work, particularly the opportunities it creates for young people.
That subject fits naturally with the purpose of Rocket Hour, which John has hosted on Apple Music since 2015. The weekly radio program has long provided a platform for new music, with the singer regularly introducing emerging performers and discussing the recordings that interest him.
Their shared history also extends beyond the radio studio. John has supported the Trust’s charity concerts for decades, and in 2021 Charles, then Prince of Wales, presented him with the Order of the Companions of Honour at Windsor Castle in recognition of his contribution to music and charity.
The October recording coincided with the launch of Apple x King’s Trust Creative Labs. The partnership offers specialized workshops designed to help young people develop technical and creative skills relevant to employment in the modern creative industries.
Charles is already familiar with Apple Music’s radio format. In March 2025, he presented The King’s Music Room, a special program released for Commonwealth Day that featured his own musical selections from across the Commonwealth.
The new Rocket Hour episode will air on Apple Music 1 at 9 a.m. GMT on November 14, equivalent to 11 a.m. in Greece. Additional broadcasts are scheduled across Apple Music radio over the weekend, with the complete selection of songs set to be revealed alongside the premiere.
