King Charles beamed with delight as he attended the grand unveiling of the new main stage curtains at the Royal Opera House, which have been specially crafted with a design in his honour.
The monarch watched as more than 2,000 guests at the Covent Garden venue in central London cheered upon catching their first glimpse of the curtains, which feature an embroidery of the King’s personal cipher. The unveiling, accompanied by an introduction from Sir Ian McKellen, kicked off an evening of music and dance as performers took to the stage for the Spring Gala: Stories From The Royal Ballet And The Royal Opera.
The previous curtains had opened and closed for more than 10,000 performances since their installation in 1997, and daily wear and tear necessitated a replacement. The new mohair velour curtains each measure 9.75 metres wide with a 10.8-metre drop.
The King’s cipher has been incorporated to symbolise the enduring relationship between the monarchy and the arts, according to executives. The monogram combines his initial “C” with “R” for Rex, Latin for king, and “III” to denote Charles as the third King Charles.
Alex Beard, chief executive of the Royal Ballet and Opera, described it as “a privilege” to welcome Charles, who serves as patron of both The Royal Ballet and The Royal Opera, to the gala. The event brought “together artists from both companies in a shared celebration,” he added.
Beard further noted: “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.”
Earlier in the evening, Charles met with representatives from curtain production specialists Gerriets and the expert embroiderers of the Royal School of Needlework, who contributed to creating the new curtains. He also viewed the original designs alongside intricate embroidery samples.
The new curtains were commissioned thanks to a grant from the Julia Rausing Trust, an organisation that supports excellence in the arts.
