Queen's 90th birthday: Elizabeth II reveals her top 10 favourite songs

The list contains only one contemporary track - amongst Broadway musical tunes, classic melodies, and traditional hymns

Clarisse Loughrey
Sunday 12 June 2016 14:02 BST
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Senior Royals are understood to have intervened in decisions that affect us all, according to secret Whitehall papers
Senior Royals are understood to have intervened in decisions that affect us all, according to secret Whitehall papers

Presumably it's of great public anxiety as to what the Queen has on regulation rotation on her stereo - so, thankfully, we can finally now all soothe our thoughts.

Elizabeth II has unveiled her 10 favourite pieces of music as part of her 90th birthday celebrations, compiling them for the upcoming BBC radio show Our Queen: 90 Musical Years.

The list largely consists of a mixture of classical pieces, Broadway musical numbers, and religious hymns; with Howard Keel's "Oklahoma!" from the titular musical landing the top spot, a deeply hopeful and celebratory anthem which has become a stage classic over the years.

Indeed, Lady Elizabeth Anson told Radio 2; "The Queen loves the theatre and musicals like Showboat, Oklahoma!, and Annie Get Your Gun."

There is, however, one contemporary track on the list; Gary Barlow's "Sing", the Commonwealth anthem penned alongside Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber, in commemoration of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012.

Not that it's much of a surprise to see it listed here; considering her own grandson, Prince Harry, happens to play the tambourine on the track.

Eve Pollard, who hosts the show, also revealed a short anecdote about the monarch; in which her correspondence secretary expressed concern that it would not be "appropriate" for the Queen to accept the presidency of the George Formby Appreciation Society.

She replied, "Well, I do see that, but you see I love George Formby", before revealing that she knew all of his songs and could sing them.

Queen at 90 celebrations

The full list is as follows:

1. "Oklahoma!" - Howard Keel
2. "Anything You Can Do (Annie Get Your Gun)" - Dolores Gray and Bill Johnson
3. "Sing" - Gary Barlow and the Commonwealth Band featuring the Military Wives
4. "Cheek to Cheek" - Fred Astaire
5. "The White Cliffs of Dover" - Vera Lynn
6. "Leaning on a Lamp-post" - George Formby
7. "Praise My Soul, The King of Heaven" - traditional hymn
8. "The Lord is My Shepherd" - traditional hymn
9. Lester Lanin medley
10. Regimental March Milanollo 

Our Queen: 90 Musical Years is set to air on BBC Radio 2 Sunday 12 June, at 7PM.

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