Band leader István Pál, also known as Szalonna (Bacon) said the royal family is very fond of Hungarian folk music and they are often invited to play there – they also performed at Prince Charles’ 60th birthday.

Band leader István Pál reading The Times at Buckingham Palace. (Szalonna Facebook page)

This is the fourth time the Hungarian band has performed for the royal family. It is a little-known fact that one of the ancestors of Queen Elizabeth II was Princess Claudine Rhédey of Transylvania. Band leader István Pál said on one occasion former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher said after their performance that the music was the embodiment of the Hungarian heart and soul.

Title image: Hungarian folk band “Szalonna és bandája” (L-R): Attila Gera, band leader István Pál, Gyula Karacs, Róbert Doór. (Szalonna Facebook page)