69 year old street musician to play before the King . Captain William Roberts , a 69 year old harpist from Wales , who untill a few weeks ago was playing in the streets of Stoke on Trent , has been honoured with a command to play before the King with the Eugene Magyar Tzigane Band at the command performance at the Palladium . Captain Roberts was authorised by Queen Victoria to style himself Royal Welsh Harpist . He played before the King and Queen once before , many years ago , when they were the Duke and Duchess of York and were visiting the Earl of Lancaster at Gwydr Castle , Llanrwst . Captain William Roberts rehearsing for his appearance with Eugene in London . 26 May 1932