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On Thursday, producers at Apple Music announced the partnership with the Monarch which will be released on an episode called The King’s Music Room. The show was recorded this year at Buckingham Palace in honour of Commonwealth Day and will air on Apple Music 1 on March 10.

The show was named after one of the state rooms at the royal residence, in which his royalty’s christening took place in 1948. The broadcast will feature King Charles III sharing anecdotes about meeting some of the artists whilst revealing his chosen songs, making the soundtrack to his life. He will also discuss how music had an impact on him and his emotions ranging from happy memories to sad moments.

The playlist will feature artists such as Bob Marley, Kylie Minogue, alongside the likes of Nigerian-American singer-songwriter Davido and recent Brit-award winner Raye.

“Human curation has always been a key pillar of our unique editorial approach,” added Apple Music executive, Rachel Newman. “Apple Music Radio is where culture is happening worldwide, and we are honoured that King Charles III chose to share his personal playlist with us, and with music fans around the world.”

“You can see His Majesty’s wide-ranging enthusiasm for music in this playlist to mark Commonwealth Day,” said Errollyn Wallen, CBE, Master of The King’s Music Room. “The Commonwealth has produced more than its fair share of wonderful songs, singers, and musicians, and this fun and eclectic collection is a great reminder of this treasure trove of creativity.”

Dame Shirley told PA News, “Receiving the Order of the Companions of Honour is just one of the most wonderful feelings. Music has always been a constant companion throughout my life. As a young girl growing up in Tiger Bay, I would dream of exploring the world, never imagining that my voice would lead me to where I am today. Every step of my career has been about taking risks, believing in myself, and seizing opportunities.” She further added, “Singing is my passion, and performing brings me immense joy. Entertaining audiences for over 70 years has been an absolute privilege. My heart is filled with emotions, and I am truly humbled.”

Born as the youngest of seven children in Tiger Bay, Cardiff, Dame Shirley initially worked in a factory’s wrapping and packing department while performing at working men’s clubs on weekends. After touring the UK in various revues and variety shows, she achieved her first major success in 1957 with the calypso-style hit, “Banana Boat Song.” In January 1959, she became the first Welsh singer to top the charts with her single “As I Love You” from the album ‘The Bewitching Miss Bassey.’

Throughout her career, she has achieved numerous milestones, including being the first recipient of the Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist in 1977 and receiving the Freedom of the City of Cardiff. Her success has been unparalleled, with her records spending more time in the UK charts than any other British female artist. Between 1961 and 1991, she had an impressive 29 albums registered as best sellers. In 1964, she gained international fame with the iconic James Bond theme song, “Goldfinger,” and went on to record the theme songs for “Diamonds Are Forever” and “Moonraker.” In 1997, she achieved another notable hit with the Propellerheads and “History Repeating.”

She became the first female music artist to receive a dedicated stamp issue, marking a significant milestone in her career. The stamps showcased various iconic moments in her musical journey, including her performances at renowned venues and events. These included her captivating performance at the Pigalle nightclub in 1965, her memorable appearance in Bournemouth in 1974, and her electrifying presence at the BBC Electric Proms in 2009. Additionally, the stamps highlighted her powerful rendition of “World In Union” alongside Bryn Terfel during the opening ceremony of the Rugby World Cup in 1999, as well as her enchanting performance at the Oscars in 2013.

Furthermore, this powerful and sultry performer paid tribute to her extraordinary talent by releasing a limited-edition series of coins. These coins featured a design that showcased her name and silhouette, capturing her iconic arms-outstretched pose. The coin also honoured her connection to her roots with a depiction of the Welsh dragon, while the names of her three James Bond theme tunes were elegantly embossed on the coin’s surface. This commemorative coin serves as a timeless tribute to her remarkable contributions to the world of music.

The coronation has been a controversial event at best, with multiple artists including Adele, Elton John, Harry Styles and The Spice Girls all declining to perform at the Coronation Concert, set to take place on 7th May 2023. Excuses ranged from scheduling conflicts to simply “no comment“, sparking discussions around the popularity of the Royal Family and what it would mean for the PR of the celebrities who seemed to be in support of the Royals.

Whilst Nick Cave was not invited to perform at the Coronation Concert, he did attend the coronation itself. Cave’s newsletter, The Red Hand Files, included his defense of his acceptance of an invitation.

He wrote, “I am not a monarchist, nor am I a royalist, nor am I an ardent republican for that matter; what I am also not is so spectacularly incurious about the world and the way it works, so ideologically captured, so damn grouchy, as to refuse an invitation to what will more than likely be the most important historical event in the UK of our age. Not just the most important, but the strangest, the weirdest.”

Cave went on to attempt to define his relationship to the Royals, saying, “When I watched the Queen’s funeral on the television last year I found, to my bafflement, that I was weeping myself as the coffin was stripped of the crown, orb and sceptre and lowered through the floor of St George’s Chapel.”

He continued, “I guess what I am trying to say is that, beyond the interminable but necessary debates about the abolition of the monarchy, I hold an inexplicable emotional attachment to the royals – the strangeness of them, the deeply eccentric nature of the whole affair that so perfectly reflects the unique weirdness of Britain itself. I’m just drawn to that kind of thing – the bizarre, the uncanny, the stupefyingly spectacular, the awe-inspiring.”

A fan wrote to Cave, saying, “Nick Cave going to the coronation??! What would the young Nick Cave have thought of that?!” with Cave replying, “as for what the young Nick Cave would have thought – well, the young Nick Cave was, in all due respect to the young Nick Cave, young, and like many young people, mostly demented, so I’m a little cautious around using him as a benchmark for what I should or should not do. He was cute though, I’ll give him that. Deranged, but cute.”

Prior to attending, Cave’s final comment on the matter was “So, with all that in mind, I am looking forward to going the Coronation. I think I’ll wear a suit.“

Nick Cave was one of many celebrities in attendance, including Katy Perry, Lionel Richie, Dame Emma Thompson and Dame Judi Dench.

My #idol set is a little different today #CoronationConcert pic.twitter.com/827k7Lq9hw

— KATY PERRY (@katyperry) May 8, 2023

Lionel Richie says he feels like ‘kid at Christmas time’ ahead of the coronation concert, adding that the performance will be ‘a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity’

Latest: https://t.co/gELyhGXZyw pic.twitter.com/0Rk8jPEdWZ

— Sky News (@SkyNews) May 3, 2023

The celebrations are set to continue until 8th May, culminating in The Big Help Out. Further details can be found here.