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During a recent visit to Manchester, King Charles III had the opportunity to try his hand at the DJ decks, admitting he was still “trying to get a hang of it.” The monarch was visiting Aviva Studios, the home of the city’s arts organisation Factory International, where he met with young people benefiting from support provided by the King’s Trust charity.
One of these young people, 22-year-old aspiring DJ Christian St Louis from Middleton, Greater Manchester, guided the King through the process of using the mixing desk. Christian explained the basics: “First, you load up the tracks and then play this one. There are so many buttons. Once you know what to do, it’s easy.” As King Charles moved along with the beat, an onlooker commented, “It’s not as easy as it looks, is it?” to which the King responded with a laugh, “I’m trying to get the hang of it.” Christian shared how the DJing course he took through the King’s Trust had been “more than helpful” and expressed his excitement at being able to pursue his passion, saying, “I always wanted to DJ. Now I know I can do it.” He is currently seeking employment to save up for his own equipment and aims to release his own recording.
Earlier this year, the King’s Trust partnered with the Elba Hope Foundation, a charity founded by actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina, to launch Creative Futures. This initiative offers free courses that inspire young people through the arts, aiming to enhance their skills and confidence for careers within creative industries. Notably, Elba himself was supported by the King’s Trust during his teenage years. Among those supported by these programmes was 19-year-old Mariama Gallow from Manchester, who presented the King with her own poetry. Mariama had completed a creative music course before studying health and social care. The King remarked, “It was fantastic. Really, really good,” referring to a piece of film Idris Elba had shown him featuring her work.
King Charles also met with young people who had gained stage construction expertise—including lighting, sound, and production—through the Factory Academy at Aviva Studios. Since its launch in 2018 by Factory International, the academy has aimed to create accessible career pathways in the creative sector, improving skills across the region. The Factory Academy works in collaboration with the King’s Trust to deliver elements of the Creative Futures programme. To mark his visit, the King unveiled a plaque and enjoyed an open-air performance by a choir from the Royal Northern College of Music. During his time at the venue, he engaged in brief conversations with members of the public gathered outside
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