King Charles turns 78 with Elton John radio special on Apple Music

A birthday on the airwaves

King Charles III turned 78 on 14 November 2026. Instead of a formal engagement, he spent part of the day as a guest on Elton John's Rocket Hour, a programme distributed through Apple Music. The special edition was recorded in October and released on the king's birthday. Elton John, 79, led an hour-long conversation about the songs and artists that had accompanied both men through their lives. A large part of the talk focused on The King's Trust, Charles's charity, which is marking its 50th anniversary. During the exchange the king described John as a national treasure.

Jokes about getting older

The conversation turned to age early on. Charles said that he and the Trust were definitely still around, and John replied that he was still sitting down. The king added that some parts occasionally fall off as people get older, which he called a terrible problem. The pair also made a joke about the BBC programme Antiques Roadshow, in which members of the public have old objects and treasures appraised. Both men used that reference only as a joke about their age, not as a hint at any announcement.

Songs and memories

The pair selected 14 songs for the show. Among them were Hound Dog by Elvis Presley, It Ain't Over 'Til It's Over by Lenny Kravitz, In The Air Tonight by Phil Collins, Gotta Serve Somebody by Bob Dylan, Feeling Good by Muse and Proud Mary by Tina Turner, whom Charles described as an electrifying personality. Charles singled out I'm Still Standing by John, saying the song inspires people in very different situations because of its message of resilience. He recalled the night of the King's Trust's tenth birthday in 1986, when John performed the song, and said nobody present would have forgotten it. Asked which song mattered most to him, Charles said that nothing could be more meaningful than love. He recalled an unforgettable performance of All You Need Is Love by Paul McCartney and other artists at a 2002 concert marking the Golden Jubilee of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

Palace and royal family wishes

The Palace marked the day on Instagram with a photograph of the king beside Elton John. In the picture John is laughing while Charles smiles toward the camera. The official royal account wrote a birthday message to the monarch, and Elton John added his own comment under the post. Prince William, 44, and Princess Kate, 44, shared the same image on their Instagram story and sent their own birthday wishes to the king. The birthday appearance replaced a formal event, and the reports describe the celebration as less official than might be expected for the British monarch.