With these diverse interests, Charles has been the most culturally attuned monarch for over a century. If Queen Elizabeth II, who died last year, was more interested in horse racing than the thousands of performances she attended during her reign, Charles’s fascination with arts and entertainment mirrors the concerns of several much earlier heirs to the throne.
In the 17th century, Charles I, a patron of painters such as Rubens and Van Dyck, built one of the most important art collections in Europe. His son, Charles II, reopened Britain’s theaters after Puritan insurgents forced their long-term closure, laying the foundations for what is now the West End. In the 18th century, George III built up a superlative 65,000 volumes that formed the heart of the British Library.
But where previous monarchs were known for their passions, Charles was often defined by the things he dislikes. From the 1980s, when he was Prince of Wales, Charles used speeches, books and television programs to repeatedly attack modern architecture and promote alternatives based on classical forms. On several occasions, he intervened directly to halt glass and steel construction projects. In doing so, he has drawn the ire of British architects, some of whom have called his interference unconstitutional.
On Saturday, the king’s love for music is fully expressed. He has commissioned 12 works for the coronation ceremony, including an “Agnus Dei” for chorus from London-born American composer Tarik O’Regan. In a telephone interview, O’Regan said that once you delved into Charles’s likes and dislikes, an image emerged of a man whose interests were “distinctly nuanced.”
“He’s obviously very influenced by music and other arts,” O’Regan said.
Charles has repeatedly said that his love of culture was sparked by his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who took him to the Royal Opera House in London at age 7 to see his first ballet. of it,” said Charles during a radio interview in 2018.
