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Prince Charles Made a Secret Contribution to Prince William and Kate Middleton's Wedding

Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images
Photo credit: WPA Pool - Getty Images

From Harper's BAZAAR

  • In a recent radio interview, Prince Charles revealed that he helped plan a special part of the 2011 wedding of Prince William and Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge.

  • The Prince of Wales, who has a deep interest in classical music, offered a few song suggestions for the Cambridges' big day.

An avid classical music lover, Prince Charles helped plan a special part of Prince William and Duchess Kate's 2011 wedding.

The Prince of Wales recently spoke to Alan Titchmarsh on Classic FM about his previously unknown contribution to the Cambridges' special day. "I love trying to organize some interesting, I hope, pieces of music for certain occasions…particularly for weddings if people want," he said, per People. "I know my eldest son was quite understanding and was perfectly happy for me to suggest a few pieces for their wedding."

He apparently had a lot of fun doing so, continuing, "I hope that gave some people pleasure, but it's rather fun having orchestras in for great occasions like that, and why not suggest a few pieces occasionally? Anyway... I do enjoy it."

Photo credit: James Devaney - Getty Images
Photo credit: James Devaney - Getty Images

According to People, guests arrived at Westminster Abbey to watch William and Kate tie the knot with organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach, and orchestral pieces by Edward Elgar, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, and more setting the scene.

Per The Spruce, the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge chose the songs "Farewell to Stromness," "Touch Her Soft Lips and Part," and "Romance for String Orchestra Op. 11" as a sweet reference to Charles and his wife, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who played the same songs at their own wedding ceremony just six years prior.

Charles also told Titchmarsh about how his love for classical music began. "Well, I suppose various people would play it around me," he said. "My grandmother used to play quite a bit of music, so I would hear something there. But I suspect the first time I really became aware of it was being taken by my grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, to Covent Garden aged 7, I think. It must have been in 1956 to see the Bolshoi Ballet perform. It was their first visit to the United Kingdom and I shall never forget that incredible occasion."

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