King Charles III unveiled a studiously edge-free selection of hits from across the world to celebrate Commonwealth Day on Monday.
The Commonwealth is a loose association of 96 countries, many of which either once counted or still count the U.K. monarch as their head of state. Charles is the head of the Commonwealth.
The playlist was introduced by the king on a one-off Apple show called “The King’s Music Room.”
One slightly bizarre inclusion was Beyonce’s “Crazy in Love,” despite the fact that the U.S. is very much not in the Commonwealth. Charles said he was including “the incomparable Beyoncé” in honor of her 2003 performance for the Prince’s Trust (since renamed the King’s Trust).
However, cynics might have perceived a subtle effort to peel the “so exceptional” Beyoncé away from the orbit of Meghan and Harry. Beyoncé has supported Meghan and Harry and the couple were seen receiving a text message from her in the Harry & Meghan Netflix documentary.
Charles went to some trouble to describe the pop star as a “most faithful supporter” of his trust, adding, “And incidentally, I would like to congratulate her for winning her first Album of the Year Grammy.”
Other name drops included a reference to his and Camilla’s friendship with Grace Jones, whose “La Vie en Rose” is included, and a meeting with the “great man himself” Bob Marley, who makes the cut with “Could You Be Loved.”
Other inclusions are Miriam Makeba with “The Click Song,” Arrow’s “Hot Hot Hot,” and Diana Ross’ “Upside Down,” of which the king says: “When I was much younger, it was absolutely impossible not to get up and dance when it was played! So, I wonder if I can still just manage it...?”
