King Charles was present at the Royal Opera House this evening as the venue revealed its striking new main stage curtains, designed to honour the monarch with an embroidered version of his personal cypher.
The ceremony at the Covent Garden venue drew cheers from an audience exceeding 2,000 people who witnessed the curtains’ debut.
Sir Ian McKellen provided the introduction for the unveiling, which launched the Spring Gala: Stories From The Royal Ballet And The Royal Opera.
The evening featured performances combining music and dance from artists across both resident companies, with Charles watching on with evident delight.
King Charles received a standing ovation as his royal cypher was unveiled on new opera curtains
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The mohair velour curtains boast impressive dimensions, measuring 9.75 metres in width with a drop of 10.8 metres.
Their predecessors had graced the stage since 1997, rising and falling for more than 10,000 performances before wear necessitated their replacement.
The King’s cypher embroidered onto the new drapes carries significant meaning, according to venue executives.
The monogram incorporates Charles’s initial alongside “R” for Rex, the Latin term for king, with III denoting his position as the third monarch bearing that name.
The new stage curtains at the Royal Opera House, which are embroidered with King Charles III’s cypher
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This design choice represents the continuing bond between the Crown and Britain’s artistic institutions.
Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, described welcoming Charles as “a privilege,” noting the monarch serves as patron of both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera.
He stated: “The unveiling of the new stage curtains marks an important moment for the organisation, reflecting our continued investment in the future of our stage and in the remarkable craft that underpins every performance.”
Sir Ian McKellen provided the introduction for the unveiling
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King Charles III arrives to attend a special performance of ‘Spring Gala: Stories from The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera’
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Prior to the gala, Charles met with specialists from curtain manufacturers Gerriets and skilled embroiderers from the Royal School of Needlework, examining original designs and detailed embroidery samples.
The Julia Rausing Trust, which champions artistic excellence, provided funding for the commission.