When I think of "interesting instruments played in the United Kingdom," my mind zeros in on the bagpipes. But during a recent event hosted at Windsor Castle, King Charles added a new one to my list. The real highlight of the evening was His Majesty's new hidden talent: Playing a carrot recorder. (Yes, really.)
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One of the groups invited to the event happened to be the London Vegetable Orchestra, which describes itself as "UK's only ensemble offering audiences ‘Home Grown’ entertainment." The members are former students of the Royal Academy of Music and now all professional musicians. Their arsenal features a variety of vegetables, including courgettes, peppers, potatoes, swedes (rutabaga) and butternut squash, in addition to the recorders that are made in-house.
In many photos from the event, the King can be seen trying his own hand at the instrument, with an amused expression on his face. The orchestra reported that he joined their ensemble for a rousing rendition of "Twinkle Twinkle Little Star."
The royal family later posted pictures on their Instagram, shown above. The event in question took place on April 3, when the 76-year-old monarch welcomed members of the grassroots music community for a reception at Windsor Castle. His cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, and the prince's wife, Birgitte, served as his co-host.
Per People, 350 members of the music community—primarily educators and volunteers—attended and treated the royals to a bevy of performances. Notable acts included the London Gay Men's Chorus, the Royal College of Music, the Songs for Ukraine Chorus and the Sing for Freedom Choir.
In addition to giving the King a masterclass in the carrot recorder, the London Vegetable Orchestra treated the internet to a stellar rendition of The Beatles's beloved song, "Let It Be." Only this time around, it was "Lettuce Bean" by the "Beet-les." If I may say so, they don't sound half bad—and many would agree. The orchestra has performed internationally, including collaborations with French pop sensation, MIKA, and in an advertisement for LG.
As for the monarch's musical capabilities, I guess all I can say is...he's got the beet.
