Photos reveal old-school iPod in the Queen's living room at Balmoral

Monarch spotted using MP3 player given to her by Barack Obama in 2009

Queen iPod
(Image credit: Getty Images)

To some, the thought of the Queen liking music is oddly surprising, with many of us unable to dissociate her from our rather dreary national anthem.

However, it appears she is a bonafide music fan, as photos from her recent meeting with governor-general of Australia Peter Cosgrove at Balmoral reveal she is the owner of an iPod.

And not just any iPod either; an iPod classic, which were discontinued from manufacturing in 2014 by Apple.

Subscribe to The Week

Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

SUBSCRIBE & SAVE
https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.

Sign up

Furthermore, rumours abound as to whether or not it is an iPod given to the Queen by then-president Barack Obama in 2009, with the Daily Mail in full sleuthing mode to find out.

“In 2009 President Obama made headlines when he gifted the Queen an iPod,” the site writes. “The most recent classic model was released in September 2008, meaning it could well be the one given to the Queen the following year.

And with the gift of an iPod Classic, explains the Mail, it is understood that Obama thoroughly usurped Prince Andrew, who gave the Queen an iPod Mini in 2005.

The music player has taken pride of place beneath a portrait of the Queen's great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria, and her friend and attendant John Brown.

Predictably, theories abound as to the content of the iPod. The Times claims that “Her Majesty likes a good show tune”, and that Obama's aides had loaded up a selection of them to the iPod, reportedly including songs from Oklahoma!, Some Enchanted Evening, The Sound of Music, Hello, Dolly! and Cabaret.

However, others were thinking further outside the box.

See more
See more
See more

Despite the playlist being a mystery, CNN's Jake Tapper claims to know what was put on the iPod for the Queen:

See more

As The Times states: “Not exactly party favourites.”

To continue reading this article...
Continue reading this article and get limited website access each month.
Get unlimited website access, exclusive newsletters plus much more.
Cancel or pause at any time.
Already a subscriber to The Week?
Not sure which email you used for your subscription? Contact us