King Charles appoints historic composer who caused 'fury' with new lyrics to Jerusalem

Wallen, 66, is the first black composer to be appointed to the role, which is fixed for a 10-year term.

The role is granted to an outstanding musician who must compose music to commemorate royal events and other ceremonial occasions.

Wallen has spoken of her desire to "dispel the myth that a composer is only white and male".

The composer also said she was looking forward to discussing her ideas with the King, and would encourage him to compose music.

It comes as Wallen’s reimagining of Hubert Parry’s Jerusalem, written for a scaled-down Last Night of the Proms in 2020 during the Covid pandemic, was dedicated to the Windrush Generation.

Wallen said she felt it was important to reflect the Commonwealth’s connection to the classic anthem and added the line: "We Commonwealth people, we sing with you."

She admitted she was "really shocked" by the backlash and spent the next day deleting "hundreds and hundreds of very abusive" messages.

Wallen told the BBC: "It’s little understood that in the colonies, de facto, we live with the music of England.

"There was nothing controversial, I didn’t think, about what I was doing but certainly it seemed to cause a bit of fury."

She acknowledged that the King was a "deeply musical person" who probably knew more about certain genres than she did.

Wallen quipped: "I don’t know if he composes but I will be encouraging him to compose."

She will take over from Judith Weir, who was appointed the Master of the Queen’s Music by Elizabeth II in 2014.

Wallen admitted she was "completely shocked" when told of her appointment. She said her music teachers and old school friends would be "very proud", adding: "I was just this nerdy little silly thing without not much confidence."

The composer, pianist and singer-songwriter was born in Belize but relocated to Tottenham, North London, when she was two.

LATEST ROYAL NEWS:

• Zara and Mike Tindall face urgent calls to help 'relieve William and Kate'
• Meghan and Harry 'embarrassed by backlash' as Sussexes 'at a crossroads'
• Pippa's children have 'fostered closer relationship' with George, Charlotte and Louis

In 1998, Wallen became the first black woman to have her work performed at the BBC Proms and in 2013, the first woman to receive an Ivor Novello Award for classical music.

She has composed music for the Cop26 summit and the 2012 Paralympic Games as well as Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden and Diamond Jubilees.

Her work includes 22 operas and orchestral, chamber and vocal compositions. In 2023 she was ranked among the top 20 most-performed living classical composers. Wallen was awarded an MBE in 2007 and a CBE in 2020 for services to music.

Her work was performed at a service of thanksgiving for King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William and Princess Kate at St Giles’ Cathedral, Edinburgh, last July.