Gary Barlow recently opened up about a memorable gift he received from King Charles, thanking him for organizing the Diamond Jubilee concert in 2012.
The Take That singer, 53, was the mastermind behind the star-studded event, which featured legends like Stevie Wonder and Sir Paul McCartney.
To show his gratitude, the then-Prince Charles, now King, presented Gary with a bottle of fine wine.
Speaking on the Table Manners podcast, Gary shared how much he cherishes the gift.
“Most of my wine cellar is filled with bottles given to me by others,” Gary explained.
“I even write on the bottle who gave it to me. The most expensive bottle I own is a Pauillac, and, I’m afraid, I’m name-dropping here — the King gave it to me around the time of the Diamond Jubilee.”
He went on to reveal that he received the gift along with a telegram, but it still remains untouched, safely kept upstairs rather than in his cellar.
Return to Royal Events
Gary’s connection with the royal family didn’t end there.
A few months after the Diamond Jubilee concert, he was honored with an OBE by Queen Elizabeth II in November 2012 for his services to entertainment and charity.
Fast forward to 2023, Gary and his Take That bandmates were invited back by the royals to perform at the Coronation Concert.
The trio—Gary, Howard Donald, and Mark Owen—performed together for the first time in four years at Windsor Castle for the event in May.
A Romantic Story: Gary’s First Kiss with Dawn
In the same interview, Gary also shared a nostalgic and sweet story about his first kiss with his wife, Dawn Andrews.
Recalling the moment, Gary revealed that it happened after a night out in Manchester.
“We were in the back of a van on our way home from a club, sitting next to each other,” Gary said.
“I had my arm around her and just thought, this is it. I’m going in.”
The couple, who married in 2000, have been together for over 24 years and share three children: Daniel (24), Emily (22), and Daisy (15).
From Colleagues to Partners: Their Love Story
Gary also spoke about how he and Dawn’s relationship developed.
The two worked together for years before it turned romantic.
Gary met Dawn in 1988 when she was a dancer in a music video.
Although they only interacted briefly, they crossed paths again at various events like Top of the Pops and Royal Variety Performances.
It wasn’t until 1995, during a tour with 20 dancers, that they began to spend more time together and eventually started dating.
Gary’s Children: Choosing Different Paths
Gary’s children have opted for careers far from the spotlight, choosing academic paths over showbiz.
In a rare comment about his family, he revealed that his two oldest children, Daniel and Emily, have ventured into medicine and physiology, with Daniel focusing on strength and conditioning.
As for his youngest, Daisy, Gary isn’t sure yet what she’ll pursue, but he notes that she’s very studious, much like her older siblings—”unlike me and my wife,” he added with a smile.
This article was published on TDPel Media. Thanks for reading!
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