Prince Charles has revealed that the piano concerto he commissioned for his grandmother the Queen Mother reflected her ‘smile, love and the sense of duty’ which ‘remained right to the very end’.
The Prince of Wales, 71, said the piece – by Nigel Hess and first performed in 2007 – is ‘very dear to my heart’ when speaking on his second programme for Classic FM, which airs at 8pm this evening.
The Queen Mother died peacefully in her sleep on March 30 in 2002, aged 101.
Prince Charles is currently living at Birkhall on the Queen’s Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire, with his wife the Duchess of Cornwall.
Prince Charles has revealed that the piano concerto he commissioned for his grandmother the Queen Mother (pictured left in 1970 and right in 1969 with the prince), reflected her ‘smile, love and the sense of duty which remained right to the very end’
The Prince of Wales (pictured recently), 71, said the piece – by Nigel Hess and first performed in 2007 – is ‘very dear to my heart’ when speaking on his second programme for Classic FM, which airs at 8pm this evening
Sharing a preview of tonight’s radio show to his Instagram account, the Duke of Cornwall admitted: ‘It’s very dear to my heart, not least because I commissioned it.
‘It’s by Nigel Hess, who has written so many well-known film and television scores as well as pieces for the concert hall.
‘I asked him to write a piano concerto in memory of my grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, and when we talked about the structure of the piece we decided each movement should reflect an important aspect of her character.’
‘The smile, the love and the sense of duty which remained deep right to the very end,’ the prince added.
It was shared along with a selection of old family photographs showing Charles with his grandmother.
The Queen Mother (seen in 1954) died peacefully in her sleep on March 30 in 2002, aged 101
A preview of tonight’s show was shared along with a selection of old family photographs showing Charles with his grandmother (pictured)
The caption read: ‘The Prince speaks of the special piano concerto that he commissioned in memory of his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
‘The piece will be played in full this evening during the second of two special programmes on Classic FM.
‘Tonight’s programme will be presented solely by The Prince of Wales, who will highlight the great importance of classical music, particularly during this difficult time.
‘His Royal Highness will add to last night’s programme with more of his favourite classical pieces, of which two were recorded by The Duchess of Cornwall’s musical patronages, National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and London Chamber Orchestra.’
The Duke of Cornwall (pictured in 1980 with his grandmother) admitted: ‘It’s very dear to my heart, not least because I commissioned it’
On yesterday’s Classic FM show Prince Charles revealed how his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother (pictured in 1948), inspired his love of music
The Prince’s Classical BRIT Award-nominated concerto has three movements subtitled The Smile, The Love and The Duty.
Charles, who learnt the cello and trumpet at boarding school, has been vocal about the role music has played in his life, previously listing favourites ranging from classical composers to 1930s dance bands and singer-songwriter Leonard Cohen.
On yesterday’s Classic FM show Prince Charles revealed how his grandmother Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother, inspired his love of music.
The Prince of Wales, 71, also admitted that he was thrilled to be asked to pick out several pieces to play at Prince William’s wedding to Kate in 2011.
Prince Charles said he first became aware of the ‘inspirational’ performing arts when attending the Bolshoi Ballet’s The Fountain of Bakhchisarai in 1956.
Describing it as an unforgettable experience, the young prince attended the Covent Garden-based performance with his grandmother.