Sir John Eliot Gardiner to conduct music at King's coronation

Sir John Eliot Gardiner will conduct The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists at Westminster Abbey

The first 20 minutes of music at the King's coronation in May will be led by an internationally renowned conductor - who is also a Dorset farmer.

Sir John Eliot Gardiner from Fontmell Magna became friends with King Charles after meeting him at an event at Sandringham.

The pair share an interest in classical music and sustainable agriculture.

Sir John Eliot gave the King two heifers for his 60th birthday.

Last month, Buckingham Palace announced Sir John Eliot would conduct The Monteverdi Choir and English Baroque Soloists in a pre-service programme of choral music on Saturday 6 May at Westminster Abbey in London.

Sir John Eliot said: "He very, very generously asked me to do the first 20 minutes when everybody has arrived and are in their seats but before he himself arrives in his carriage.

"This is kind-of a pre-coronation mini concert. We do our 20 minutes and then we have to move out pretty quickly in order to let the abbey choir come in and take our place in the choir stalls.

"It's a wonderful honour to kick off the proceedings with some very beautiful classical music."

Sir John Eliot was awarded a knighthood for his services to music in the 1998 Queen's Birthday Honours, receiving the honour from the then Prince Charles.

He added that the King had also visited his farm near Fontmell Magna on three occasions.

He said: "He used to drop in occasionally because our farm near Shaftesbury is on a direct route from Highgrove down to Poundbury.

"I showed him my cattle and he liked them so I decided for his 60th birthday to give him a couple of heifers.

"When he knighted me, he leant forward with the sword and said, 'Thank you for the heifers.'"

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