By Rebecca English Royal Editor and Bridie Pearson-jones For Mailonline
16:18 22 May 2024, updated 17:52 22 May 2024
The King sent his best wishes to new dad Ant McPartlin today, after being told the star was unable to join him at Buckingham Palace as he was ‘helping to breastfeed’ his new baby.
His co-star and friend Dec Donnelly told the sovereign: ‘He’s not here today and sends his apologies, he’s got a week old baby, he’s breastfeeding, or helping with.
Chuckling Charles replied: ‘Please give him my regards. Fantastic. Because you are amazing.’
Ant and partner Anne-Marie Corbett have announced the birth of their baby son, Wilder.
Charles, 75, joined Dec and celebrity ambassadors Martin Freeman, and Ellie Simmonds, among others, to celebrate winners of The Prince’s Trust Awards 2024, which recognises young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.
His Majesty was typically stylish in an impeccably tailored grey suit with a navy spotted tie and a pocket square.
The King also chatted to Love Island star and basketball player Ovie Soko who is 6ft 7in tall.
Gazing up at him, the King joked: ‘You don’t even have to jump.’
Other stars included Kate Garraway, pop star Pixie Lott and Penny Lancaster, who told the King that her husband, Rod Stewart, was off on tour again.
Celebs Go Dating host Anna Williamson said to the King, who is still having treatment for cancer: ‘It’s lovely to see you looking so well.’
Among the winners was Arti, 18, who won the the Amal Clooney Woman’s Empowerment Award
She turned up at Buckingham Palace riding in a pink rickshaw – which the King got the chance to marvel at as it parked up.
The India State government’s Pink Rickshaw campaign is an initiative to provide pink rickshaws for female passengers with female drivers.
The idea is to increase employment opportunities for vulnerable women and single mothers, like Arti, while improving women’s access to safe transport.
The eight UK Award categories include Enterprise Award, Education Award, Breakthrough Award and Young Change Maker Award.
The others are Young Achiever Award, Community Impact Award, Rising Star Award and Volunteer of the Year Award.
There were also three Global Award categories, which are Global Young Achiever Award, Amal Clooney Woman’s Empowerment Award and The Prince’s Trust Group Sustainability Award.
The King congratulated winners in the 1844 and Bow Room followed by a group photograph at the bottom of the Grand Staircase.
He founded The Prince’s Trust in 1976 with his naval pension, with the charity going on to help more than a million young people back into education, employment and training.
It’s been a busy week for the King, who has been delighted to return to work after getting the go ahead from doctors last month.
Earlier this week, he was dubbed the ‘King of Compost’ by a group of school children at Chelsea Flower Show.
It’s one of Charles’s first public events following his return to work after his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.
Camilla recently revealed Charles was ‘thrilled’ to return to royal duties and joked that she had been ‘trying to hold him back’ during his cancer treatment.
The Queen, 76, spoke about the monarch’s dedication to his work’ during her reception at Buckingham Palace to relaunch the Wash Bags Project.
The monarch, 75, returned to public duties last month after doctors said they were pleased with his progress following his cancer diagnosis in February.
The Prince’s Trust Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community.
The 2024 winners include young people who have overcome challenges including poor mental health, educational troubles and youth unemployment with the help of the Trust.
The eight UK Award categories are: Enterprise Award, Education Award, Breakthrough Award, Young Change Maker Award, Young Achiever Award, Community Impact Award, Rising Star Award and Volunteer of the Year Award.
The three Global Award categories are: Global Young Achiever Award, Amal Clooney Woman’s Empowerment Award and The Prince’s Trust Group Sustainability Award. His Majesty The King will receive Chief Executive of The Prince’s Trust, Mr. Jonathan Townsend; Chief Executive of The King’s Trust International, Will Straw; and Chief Executive of The King’s Trust New Zealand, Rod Baxter, in the Carnarvon Room.
James Parker is a UK-based entertainment aficionado who delves into the glitz and glamour of the entertainment industry. From Hollywood to the West End, he offers readers an insider’s perspective on the world of movies, music, and pop culture.
