King Charles Jokes About Aging in Special Elton John Podcast Episode

King Charles celebrated his 78th birthday on Saturday by appearing on a special edition of Elton John's Rocket Hour. The recorded episode was designed to mark the 50th anniversary of the King's Trust, a charity established by the monarch in 1976. During the broadcast, the two engaged in light-hearted banter, with Charles joking that they were still standing, a playful reference to John's famous hit song.

The playlist featured tracks from numerous musicians who have been associated with the trust over its half-century history. Charles included John's I'm Still Standing, reminiscing about the singer's performance at a Rock Gala in 1986. He noted that the remarkable concert was held to mark the trust's 10th anniversary and that 40 years later, both the organization and the people involved are still active. John, who is 79, joked that he is now sitting, while Charles added that they experience occasional parts dropping off as they age.

The king described the appearance as an opportunity too good to resist. He selected Calvin Harris and Rag'n'Bone Man's 2019 track Giant to illustrate the concept of standing on the shoulders of giants. Charles explained that this phrase reminds people to draw strength from those who came before them, a sentiment that aligns with the trust's mission.

A tribute to Phil Collins, who is being inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame as a solo artist, was made through the selection of In the Air Tonight. Charles called Collins a tremendous supporter of the trust and expressed great pleasure for his achievement. He also highlighted a special generational connection, noting that Collins's daughter, Lily, is also a supporter of the charity.

Rod Stewart's version of Handbags and Gladrags was chosen for two reasons. Charles admired Stewart, describing him as totally unstoppable, but also wanted to honor the Stereophonics. The band started their career with assistance from the trust, exemplifying how the organization provides young people with their first opportunities.

The king recalled a specific instance from 1994 when a group known as the Rocket Baby Dolls received a small grant to buy audio equipment. He noted that they later became Muse and grew into one of the world's biggest stadium bands. Their version of Feeling Good was included in the playlist to celebrate this journey.

When asked to pick an extremely meaningful song, Charles chose All You Need Is Love by the Beatles. He shared a memory of witnessing a magical performance of the song at the Party at the Palace concert for his late mother's Golden Jubilee. The all-star lineup included Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Joe Cocker, Phil Collins on drums, Brian May, and Eric Clapton. Charles described the track as timeless with a timeless message.

Elton John contributed his own selections, including Elvis Presley's Hound Dog. He revealed that his mother used to buy a record every Friday and once declared that she had never heard anything like it before. That discovery set John on his musical career path. Other songs on the list included Raye's Joy and Skye Newman's Hairdresser.

The podcast was recorded last month at the Apple Music studios in Battersea Power Station in south London. It was broadcast for free on Apple Music 1 on Saturday at 5pm and 10pm, and on Sunday at 2am and 6am. Additional broadcasts occurred on Apple Music 1 and Apple Music Hits at 10am and 2pm on Sunday. The episode is now available to listen to or download from the Apple Music platform.

The full playlist also featured songs by Tina Turner, Bob Dylan, Lenny Kravitz, Pete Townshend, and Nectar. Charles summarized the experience as the most enjoyable and nostalgic journey through the musical high spots of the last fifty years.