Asked how it felt to have his music be the soundtrack of some of the most significant events in the lives of the Royal family, he said: “If I worried about how many people were going to be witnessing the occasion on television or radio, I wouldn’t ever pick up my pencil and so, for example, when I was invited to write an anthem for Prince William and Kate’s wedding, I just thought, well, they are a young couple.
He continued: “Everybody who’s involved in making music does it for love, whether they get paid or not, and I parachute in as a composer and get to meet those who actually make the music, who sing or who play, and I just conduct generally, if it’s something I’ve written, then I’m bringing my child to life, as it were, which is always a thrill.
“I’ve been fortunate to be asked to write music for various royal occasions, but then I’ve been asked to write music for my local church choir or just for a wedding of a couple of friends.
“I don’t know them personally, though I did speak with them, but I know that it will be a special day for them and so I’m, as it were, writing a piece of music for two lovely young people who are having a special day in their lives and I didn’t worry.
Composer Sir John Rutter said it was “very special” to receive a knighthood from the King because Charles is a “music lover”.
