King Charles Charmed by Cardboard Gorilla and Hollywood Stars at Palace Reception!
ROYAL SHENANIGANS: THE KING'S NIGHT OUT AT THE CLIMATE FINANCE RECEPTION
Last night, the monarch made his way to Lancaster House for a climate finance reception, and what a spectacle it was! The 76-year-old King, still going strong despite his advancing years, mingled with industry experts, indigenous leaders, government officials, and business bigwigs. But it wasn't just the who's who of the international community that stole the show - we've got the scoop on the King's most unlikely encounter of the evening.
As he watched a performance by life-sized animal puppets operated by artists from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle (yes, you read that right!), one of the contraptions, a giant gorilla puppet named "Gerald," caught his eye. The mischievous primate slowly made its way down a staircase in the Grand Hall, holding out its arm in greeting. We're told the King was unfazed by the unusual encounter and even chatted with Gerald as if it were an old friend.
But that wasn't the only surprising moment of the evening. As the King worked the room, shaking hands (or in this case, pats on the back) with the likes of Hollywood star George Clooney and his wife Amal, we spotted a few other notable attendees. There was make-up mogul Charlotte Tilbury, looking radiant as always, and national treasure Dame Joanna Lumley, chatting with the King like they were old pals.
The Sugababes and actor Joseph Fiennes also made an appearance, but it was Fearne Cotton who really stole the show. The TV presenter was seen giggling uncontrollably with Rosie Huntingdon-Whiteley as they watched a group of performers do their thing on stage. And let's not forget Declan Donnelly, looking dapper in his suit and tie.
But what about the King's interactions with the attendees? Well, we've got some juicy tidbits for you. When he met Mona Ainu'u, Minister of Natural Resources from the South Pacific island of Niue, she presented him with a jar of local honey made at a newly created bee sanctuary for the Pacific. The King chuckled and said, "Where did you hear that I love honey in my tea?" before launching into a quote from Dame Barbara Cartland: "A spoonful of honey a day keeps you more than lovable." We're not sure if he's actually a fan of honey, but it was a clever quip nonetheless.
Later on, the King met Marina Silva, Brazilian minister of the environment and climate change. He told her, "Give my regards to your president" and praised her efforts for Cop30 in November. When asked about his own travel plans, he joked that he'd love to visit Niue one day but added, "It's fitting it all in." We're not sure if that's code for "I'm too busy being a king," but we're rooting for him.
But what really got our attention was the King's chat with Sabrina Elba, UN Goodwill Ambassador for the International Fund for Agricultural Development. When she congratulated him on his upcoming Netflix documentary celebrating the 50th anniversary of the King's Trust, he looked puzzled and asked, "Which documentary?" Ah, Charles, it seems you've lost track of your projects - but don't worry, we won't tell anyone.
As the evening drew to a close, the King made his way to the King's Trust Awards at Buckingham Palace. There, he mingled with more A-listers, including actor Idris Elba and his wife Sabrina (yes, they're still together!). The royal couple were seen chatting with the King, no doubt discussing their upcoming projects.
But what really caught our eye was the fashion sense of some of the attendees. We spotted Dame Tracey Emin sporting dark-colored Crocs, while Grayson Perry rocked a brightly-painted pair to match his bright orange dress. And let's not forget the special anniversary exhibition created to mark 25 years of the Royal Drawing School - it included works by 50 eminent artists and alumni from the school's twenty-five-year history.
The King even contributed a preliminary sketch of Highgrove from 2000, which will be displayed at the Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch from July 1-26. So if you're in London this summer, be sure to check it out - and who knows, maybe you'll even spot the King himself making an appearance.
Sources:
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