The Arts
The Prince of Wales enjoys many different types of performing arts, especially music, theatre and opera.
The Prince and The Duchess regularly attend theatre and opera performances and symphony concerts, sometimes at gala charity events and sometimes in a private capacity.
His Royal Highness is President or Patron of more than 20 performing arts organisations, including the Royal College of Music, the Royal Opera, the Royal Shakespeare Company, the English Chamber Orchestra and Music Society, the Philharmonia Orchestra and Chorus, Welsh National Opera, the Purcell School and the William Walton Foundation.
The Prince also founded The Prince's Foundation for Children and The Arts in 2002 to help more children experience the arts first-hand.
The Prince is President of the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) and regularly attends performances in Stratford-Upon-Avon, supports fundraising events and attends the company's annual general meeting.
In conjunction with the RSC, The Prince developed the Shakespeare's Summer School to provide children with an opportunity to hear scholarly and critical opinions about Shakespeare and to learn more about the practical business of presenting his plays on stage.
Official Harpist to The Prince of Wales
In 2000, His Royal Highness recreated the tradition of harpists being appointed to the Royal Court, by appointing an Official Harpist to The Prince of Wales.
The appointment of Catrin Finch, a Welsh-born student at the Royal Academy of Music, recognised the importance of the harp to the culture and music of Wales, and of supporting young Welsh talent.
The second Harpist was Jemima Phillips from Ebbw Vale and the third and current holder of the role is Claire Jones from Crymych, Pembrokeshire. Click here to find out more.