King celebrates foundation with David Beckham and Sir Rod Stewart
The King was all smiles with David Beckham as he celebrated the work of his foundation alongside other celebrity ambassadors including Sir Rod Stewart and Naomi Campbell.
Charles attended the King’s Foundation inaugural awards ceremony which showcased the work of students, teachers, alumni and partners who have contributed to the organisation’s charitable efforts in London on Tuesday evening.
The foundation is the custodian of the Highgrove gardens and offers workshops, programmes and short courses focused on heritage and craft skills at its Barley Court education centre on the estate.
Charles and former Manchester United midfielder Beckham were both seen laughing and heard discussing England’s chances in the Euro 2024 championships.
Referring to England’s loss to Iceland on Friday, Charles said: “What was all that at Wembley?”
Beckham replied: “I don’t think we should read much into it.”
Charles said: “It doesn’t really matter does it? It was a warming up sort of thing. You don’t want to expend it all in one go at the beginning.”
Reassuring the King, Beckham said “we’ll be ready, Gareth will be ready” to which Charles gave the former footballer a thumbs up.
Earlier, Sir Rod shared a joke with Beckham as he took to the stage to present an award and teased the former footballer that his knighthood was “coming soon”.
The singer, who is a supporter of the charity, attended the event with his wife Penny Lancaster who pecked the King on the cheek as she greeted him after the awards had been handed out.
Of his joke at Beckham’s expense, Sir Rod told reporters at the event: “Someone has to lighten the atmosphere in the room you know – he’s a good sport.”
The event at St James’s Palace, which is set to become an annual fixture in the King’s Foundation calendar, was attended by celebrity supporters and ambassadors of the charity including broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful and actress Sienna Miller.
Charles presented the final award of the evening, the King Charles III Harmony Award, to South Korean diplomat and former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
During his speech Charles said: “I really am delighted to be here with you all at the inaugural King’s Foundation Awards and to present the first King Charles III Harmony Award.
“This award was created to recognise the individuals who champion the values which underpin the King’s Foundation’s mission and my own hope for a world in which we live in harmony with nature.”
He continued to pay tribute to the diplomat for his “tireless dedication” to promoting those values internationally.
The ceremony was attended by around 250 guests who were entertained by pipers from the National Piper Centre and the Rock Choir.
TV chef Jamie Oliver, who was not in attendance, was awarded Advocate of the Year alongside fellow broadcaster Jimmy Doherty for their work elevating the profile of the foundation’s Food For the Future programme.
Alongside its education programmes to protect traditional skills, the foundation, based at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire, aims to revitalise communities through urban regeneration and planning, and support sustainable food production and teach rural skills.
