King Charles and Elton John in the audience for Apple music workshop

Young performer Skye Newman faced what must have seemed like a very unusual X-Factor style panel – King Charles, Sir Elton, his husband David Furnish and Apple’s executive chairman Tim Cook.

The music workshop was part of a project between Apple and the King’s Trust Creative Labs, and is the latest link-up between the royals and the Californian tech giant.

Last year, the King revealed a playlist of 17 of his favourite tracks, which was issued on Apple Music.

The King didn’t include Sir Elton John in any of those choices – but the pop star has been a long-time supporter of the King’s Trust charity, which was previously known as the Prince’s Trust.

Now in its 50th year, the charity was set up to give opportunities to deprived and marginalised young people – and has so far helped 1.3 million people across the UK.

The tie-up with Apple shows the changing demands for work skills, including using the latest technology for young people wanting to build careers in the music and creative industries.

There was also a royal link with Battersea Power Station – as that had once provided the electricity for Buckingham Palace.

In the power station’s control room, the link to the Palace had been discreetly labelled as “Carnaby Street”, in case any intruders had ever been tempted to switch off the Palace lights.