Spring Gala 2026 attended by His Majesty King Charles III with Marianela Nuñez and Pretty Yende – Tristram Kenton
Last night, the Royal Ballet and Opera unveiled its new Main Stage curtains at the Spring Gala. Attended by His Majesty King Charles III, the occasion not only marked a milestone in the theatre’s history but also paid tribute to the tradition of artistry and craftsmanship of stage design.
Following the gala performance, His Majesty appeared on stage in front of the newly unveiled curtains, which feature his personal cipher. He was accompanied by Royal Ballet Principal dancer Marianela Nuñez and soprano Pretty Yende, who performed at the Coronation of King Charles III in May 2023.
Spring Gala 2026 attended by His Majesty King Charles III meeting The Sleeping Beauty king played by Christopher Saunders – photo by Laura Aziz
His Majesty attended the gala and met artists as well as backstage and technical teams. He also met representatives from the curtain production teams from Gerriets and the embroiderers from the Royal School of Needlework. He was shown the original designs alongside intricate embroidery samples.
It was a privilege to welcome His Majesty The King this evening, bringing together artists from both companies in a shared celebration. The unveiling of the new stage curtains marks an important moment for the organisation, reflecting our continued investment in the future of our stage and in the remarkable craft that underpins every performance.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
London City Ballet’s London debut – LCB seems to have struck upon a delicate equilibrium here – one that honours its past without being weighed down by it.
On 14 May, after 3 decades and tens of thousands of performances, the Royal Ballet and Opera unveils its new stage curtains as part of a Gala performance.
