King Charles plays a carrot for 350 guests at music reception at Windsor Castle

Cara Wood
7NEWS
King Charles plays a carrot recorder with the London Vegetable Orchestra during a music reception at Windsor Castle.

King Charles is known for his love of gardening and plants — but it was still unexpected to see him playing a tune on a carrot recorder during a reception for community musicians at Windsor Castle.

The monarch joined the London Vegetable Orchestra in a rendition of Twinkle Twinkle Little Star as he honoured 350 guests for their contributions to community music throughout the UK on Thursday.

WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: King Charles’ carrot serenade.

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Members of the London Vegetable Orchestra — who pride themselves on being the UK’s only ensemble that exclusively plays instruments crafted from locally sourced vegetables — made the carrot instrument especially for the king to play.

After the performance, one orchestra member told Charles they “stayed up all night making it”.

The orchestra, founded more than a decade ago by a group of Royal Academy of Music students, also used instruments fashioned from potatoes, peppers and swedes.

King Charles plays a carrot recorder at Windsor Castle.
King Charles plays a carrot recorder at Windsor Castle. Credit: ITV News

Other guests welcomed to King Charles’ home for the reception included the Sing For Freedom Choir, members of the Royal College of Music, and British saxophonist YolanDa Brown.

Buckingham Palace said the event aimed to focus on the work of “grassroots groups and projects” and “celebrate the vital role music plays in strengthening communities and the important work of those developing future musical leaders”.

All FM breakfast DJ Alan Livingstone said he spoke with Charles, telling him “how I only started DJing late in life and he said it is wonderful and how great it is that I enjoy it”.

“Amazing that he makes the effort,” Livingstone said.

“What an incredible man, to do all this and encourage people to do good work in the community.”

Charles has returned to public duties following a hospital admission due to side effects from his cancer treatment last week.

He suffered “temporary side effects” that required a “short period of observation in hospital”, Buckingham Palace said.

He was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and took time off before resuming public duties in April, while continuing weekly treatment.

Since then, his schedule has reportedly been planned in close collaboration with his medical team to ensure his recovery remains top priority.

Originally published on 7NEWS

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