King Charles welcomed representatives from hundreds of charities supported by the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Fund as he celebrated his 40th birthday.
Perusing the various stands in the grounds of Clarence House, the 74-year-old monarch was treated to some treats from Waitrose’s Duchy Originals collection as the event opened to mark four decades since the PWCF was founded in 1979.
And to mark the milestone, he cut a ceremonial slice of a celebration cake
The fund, which aims to build sustainable communities and transform lives, has a particular focus on themes including environment and countryside, social inclusion and conservation and heritage.
Over the past 20 years, it has awarded more than £70 million to causes in these regions
During the event, PWCF is announcing a new initiative, the Coronation Food Project, which aims to reduce food waste that would otherwise end up in landfills.
The project will redistribute food to people in need through partner charities and organizations.
It will build on the fund’s previous projects, which included funding to buy 800 fridges and freezers and give them to food banks and community centers across the UK.
During tonight’s event, the King met with representatives from the BIGKID Foundation, which tackles youth violence in London and aims to empower young people to fulfill their potential through community engagement and mentoring programmes.
He is also meeting a beneficiary of the Queen Elizabeth Scholarship Trust, which is supported by funds and encourages the training and education of artisans.
Raja will look at art created by beneficiaries of Arts Together, another charity the fund supports, which works to tackle loneliness and improve the quality of life of older people through artistic projects.
A royal celebration! The King cuts a cake for the 40th anniversary of the Prince of Wales’s Charitable Fund
During the reception at Clarence House, Charles, 74, met staff from charities supported by the fund.
The King shook hands with representatives of the charity at Clarence House this afternoon
One charity supported by the fund, BIGKID, tackles youth violence in London
While enjoying an evening at Clarence House, his wife Queen Camilla was enjoying the action at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club on Wimbledon quarter-final day.
The Queen, 75, arrived at the All England Lawn and Tennis Club for the first time today to watch Anne Jabeur and Elena Rybakina and Carlos Alvarez and Rune Holger battle it out on Center Court.
On arrival, he was greeted by AELTC Chairman, Ian Hewitt and introduced to the ball boys and girls and even enjoyed a meeting with one of the Championship’s search dogs.
When he met one of the ball girls, who looked sharp in pigtails and a navy hat, he advised the young man to be as agile as possible to keep up with the physically demanding job.
She also joked about how she was once in the same position as a ball girl – but joked that those days were ‘100 years ago’.
After arriving at SW19, Queen Camilla donned Wimbledon white in a knee-length dress with navy piping.
The royal finished the look with a stylish straw clutch bag and a cream shawl, clearly aware of the changeable Wimbledon weather.
As he got out of the car and entered the club, Mr. Hewitt introduced him to the ball boys and girls.
Meeting one of the ball girls, the Queen asked if she was enjoying her first tournament, to which she replied: ‘Very much so.’
The Queen then quipped: ‘You must be very quick. I remember doing it 100 years ago… It’s pretty hard to get it right.’
He then meets a ball boy named Sean and comments that he and his colleagues have to be ‘very fit’ to do their job.
Camilla, who attended tennis alone and for the first time with her new title, also met detection dog handler Mark Mills and his search dog Flo, reaching down to give the Labrador a friendly pet.
Queen Camilla was accompanied by her lookalike sister Annabelle Elliott as she watched the excitement on Center Court on the day of the quarter-finals.