Gloucestershire dancers put a spring into Prince’s step

A group of dancers from Gloucestershire helped Prince Charles get a Jubilee party swinging at his home at Highgrove, near Tetbury.

The event took place on Tuesday 31 May 2022 and as tea and cakes were served and the Honeymoon Swing Band struck up, the Cheltenham Swing Dancers hit the wooden floor at Highgrove at full tilt – then in came Prince Charles himself, accompanied by jazz supremo Jools Holland and singer Ruby Turner.

‘The whole place was hopping,’ said Cheltenham Swing Dance member Anita Syvret. ‘We were presented to the Prince and asked him if he’d like a dance. First, he said no, then he changed his mind and whisked Bridget Tibbs on to the dance floor.’

The party was held on behalf of the Prince’s Foundation Trust and invited local pensioners and Age UK staff to Highgrove to celebrate the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

Syvret said: ‘I got a text a few weeks ago through a friend, asking if I could DJ for a pensioners’ party. I said ‘yes’ and thought no more about it. Then I got an email from Highgrove. They didn’t want a DJ. They wanted 10 dancers to help make sure there was dancing as well as tea on offer.

‘Lindyhoppers don’t need to be asked twice to hit the floor. The 10 of us were delighted to help out. We got nearly everyone on their feet by the end of the afternoon. It was magic.’

For anyone who fancies having a go at swing dancing themselves, Cheltenham Swing Dance runs lindyhop classes every Wednesday at the Dowty Sports Club in Staverton – though we can’t promise Prince Charles will be making an appearance…