Carl Cox Meets King Charles III at Buckingham Palace Event

Carl Cox met King Charles III at Buckingham Palace on May 14 during an event celebrating the 50th anniversary of The King's Trust, the charity that helped launch the DJ's career more than three decades ago.

Key Takeaways

• Carl Cox attended a May 14 event at Buckingham Palace honoring The King's Trust's 50th anniversary
• The DJ received £1,000 from the charity in 1988 when he was 24, which he used to buy his first DJ equipment
• The King's Trust was founded in 1976 by King Charles (then Prince Charles) to support young people facing unemployment and homelessness
• Cox chose a £60-per-week DJ career over a £500-per-week scaffolding job, a decision enabled by the Trust's support

From Scaffolder to DJ Royalty

Carl Cox revealed on social media that the grant came at a pivotal moment in his life. At 24, he faced a choice between taking a £500-per-week job as a scaffolder or pursuing a £60-per-week career as a self-employed DJ.

"The big decision back then was whether to take £500 a week as a scaffolder or £60 a week as a self-employed DJ. I chose the music, and that was that ….the rest you know," Cox wrote in his post.

Full Circle Moment

Cox described the Buckingham Palace event as a full circle moment, returning to celebrate the organization that supported him during a difficult period. The King's Trust was founded in 1976 by King Charles III, then Prince Charles, to help young people fighting challenges including unemployment and homelessness.

The charity's £1,000 investment in a young Carl Cox has paid dividends for electronic music culture worldwide, demonstrating the lasting impact such support can have on emerging talent.