15-05-2025
Watch: King marvels at Dynamo magic trick
The King has marvelled at an 'extraordinary' trick performed by the magician Dynamo during a day out in Bradford.
His Majesty, 76, reunited with the magician, now known by his real name Steven Frayne, as he performed an elaborate card trick for the monarch.
The King told Mr Frayne he was getting 'better and better'.
'It's extraordinary,' the monarch said as he watched the magician at work.
The Bradford-born magician, 42, started his career with a grant from the King's Trust, formerly the Prince's Trust, in 2003. The Trust has helped more than one million young people since being founded in 1976.
During Thursday's visit, Mr Frayne hailed the monarch for his early support in his career.
'I wouldn't be doing magic today without the support you gave me,' he told the King, adding that the pair 'go way back'.
Mr Frayne also revealed he is part of the world's most famous magic society alongside the King himself.
When Charles asked if he was a member of the Magic Circle, the magician replied: 'Yes. I think we're in the top level now. There's only a select few. I believe you're in there as well?'
The monarch laughed and recalled being granted honorary membership of the elite magicians' club in 1975 after performing a trick where balls appear and disappear under upside down cups. He said: 'Yes, a cup and balls thing. It's impossible.'
The King then hailed the famous magician's 'gift of the gab', his 'remarkable determination' and his 'incredible amounts of practice'.
'It's the gift of the gab,' he told Mr Frayne. 'You go on talking so people don't know what you're doing.'
'The best moments happen in silence'
Mr Frayne explained that sometimes 'the best moments happen in the silence,' saying that training as a magician is similar to being an athlete.
'It's almost like training like an athlete, because obviously 2003 when we first met, to get to here now – that's a lot of magic I've got to come up with and I've got to keep reinventing myself, keep coming up with new ideas,' he added.
When asked where he got his ideas, Mr Frayne told the King: 'A lot of them come from experiences travelling around, and sometimes I have to lock myself away in my magic cage. I've got a magic headquarters. And I have to lock myself away in there and see what magic comes out.'
Mr Frayne then went on to delight the King with some card tricks. Instead of guessing Charles's choice from a deck of cards by making it reappear in a pocket, as he did with other volunteers, he turned to the King and said: 'But your card, I'm going to try it a bit differently.
'So I take my phone and let me see how you've got the WiFi in the area, I want you to focus on your card and just name it out loud.'
The King confirmed his card was the king of hearts, to which Mr Frayne revealed that not only had the magician's mobile phone changed the network to show the name king of hearts, but so had all the mobile phones in the room.
It came during a day of engagements for the King and Queen in Bradford to celebrate the people and heritage of the current UK City of Culture.
Their Majesties were welcomed on Thursday morning by a performance from Paraorchestra, an ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians, and a gathered crowd.
The King later received a hug from Imran Khan, a tailor whom he previously met in 2022 and had subsequently sent him a specially-made jacket.
Mr Khan, who runs IK Collections, received a letter from Buckingham Palace thanking him for the 'wonderful' jacket.
On Thursday, the pair reunited in Bradford during a visit to Impact Hub Yorkshire, which provides support to businesses finding sustainable solutions to social challenges.
The King and Queen visit set the seal on the year-long celebrations after Bradford was chosen as the UK City of Culture over 20 other bids in May 2022 by the Government to showcase its best music, arts and heritage.
Bradford 2025 is taking place throughout Bradford district, an area of 141 square miles across West Yorkshire.
It features performances, exhibitions, events and activities inspired by the variety in the landscape, from the city's historic centre to the surrounding countryside, with a focus on the people of Bradford, from local artists to the diverse communities who call the city home.
