May is upon us and with it seemingly endless Bank Holidays (no complaints here), the faintest hint of summer (dare we speak of) and most notably the crowning of a new (ish) King!
For the last half-century, the British monarchy has enjoyed a close and enduring relationship with some of the biggest names in music. From the Beatles to Beyoncé, these artists have played an important role in shaping the cultural landscape of Britain and have brought their unique talents to some of the most iconic and historic events of our time.
One of the most famous moments in this long-standing relationship was when the Beatles performed at the 1963 Royal Variety Performance. With Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip in attendance, the Beatles played to a packed audience and helped build their now-immortal legacy, both worldwide and with the British public. Since then, countless other musicians have performed at royal events, some of the most notable names including Queen, Adele, Paul McCartney, Rod Stewart, Geoff Sewell and Amici Forever (see what we did there).
Perhaps one of the most emotional and unforgettable performances was Elton John’s rendition of “Candle in the Wind” at the funeral of Princess Diana in 1997. The song, which Elton and Bernie Taupin had originally written in honour of Marilyn Monroe, was re-worked as a tribute to the beloved Princess and became an instant classic.
More recently, Ed Sheeran performed at the 2018 Queen’s Birthday Party concert at the Royal Albert Hall, where he played some of his biggest hits to an adoring crowd that included members of the royal family. Beyoncé and Jay-Z performed at a charity concert in honour of the late Nelson Mandela in 2018; attended by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
These moments of musical magic have helped to define the British monarchy’s relationship with musicians over the last 50 years. Through their shared love of music and their commitment to charitable causes, the royal family and these iconic artists have come together to create moments of joy, celebration and unity that will be remembered for generations to come.
There has of course been some controversy around the upcoming coronation; with Harry Styles, Adele, The Spice Girls, Robbie Williams and Elton John all turning down the opportunity to perform for our new monarch. Is it a sign of the times or simply an awkward case of scheduling? The next 50 years should certainly be of some indication.
Nevertheless, we’re here for the music and can’t wait to see what moment of the upcoming coronation lives on in our memories, until the next one.
We’d love to hear how you’re spending your Coronation weekend. Send photos, stories and plans!
To another holiday!
Team Incognito
