David Beckham supports King Charles just days before his knighthood is announced
David Beckham has supported King Charles just days before his knighthood is announced.
King Charles presented awards at the King’s Foundation’s 35th anniversary ceremony at St James’s Palace, with Nobel Peace Prize laureate Professor Muhammad Yunus receiving the prestigious King Charles III Harmony Award.
Attending the awards were celebrities such as David Beckham, Kate Winslet, Meryl Streep, and Penny Lancaster.
Beckham is expected to be knighted by King Charles this Friday, according to reports in the Sun.
The ceremony, attended by approximately 200 guests, celebrated exceptional contributions to sustainability, traditional heritage skills and environmental education.
Professor Yunus, founder of Grameen Bank and pioneer of microcredit, was recognised for his “long-term outstanding commitment to, and support for, The King’s Harmony philosophy, which looks to prioritise sustainability and nature across all sectors.”
The charity, founded by the King 35 years ago, has trained more than 115,000 students in traditional crafts and environmental education throughout its history.
The Foundation has welcomed over 2.5 million visitors to its UK destinations and positively impacted more than 500,000 lives through sustainable urban planning initiatives. The ceremony featured interactive displays showcasing furniture making, millinery and embroidery programmes.
Attendees witnessed the premiere of the Harmony Song, composed by Jack Pepper, a member of The King’s Foundation’s 35 under 35 network. This initiative has brought together 35 young people to celebrate the charity’s anniversary and encourage a new generation to engage with the Foundation’s work.
The event also featured the charity’s 35th anniversary time capsule, which will be buried later this year at the Foundation’s headquarters, Dumfries House. Nine award categories were presented during the ceremony, recognising students, teachers, alumni and partners across various sectors.
Professor Yunus, who serves as Chief Adviser to the Government of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, established more than 50 social business companies throughout his career. In 2006, he and Grameen Bank jointly received the Nobel Peace Prize for their groundbreaking work in poverty alleviation.
The Bangladeshi visionary became the first Muslim to receive the Congressional Gold Medal from the United States Congress in 2013. He also received the US Presidential Medal in 2009 and the Vatican’s Lamp of Peace of St. Francis in 2019 for promoting peace and harmony worldwide.
Fortune Magazine named Professor Yunus as “one of the greatest entrepreneurs of our time” in March 2012, recognising his constant innovation in social business principles and sustainable, socially responsible projects.
Pakistani architect Yasmeen Lari, the country’s first female architect, won the Innovation in Practice award for her humanitarian work through Heritage Foundation Pakistan. She has developed low-carbon, disaster-resilient community facilities and housing for Pakistan’s most marginalised communities.
Emily Hurst received the Emerging Talent award after completing the CHANEL and King’s Foundation Métiers d’Art Fellowship in Millinery at Highgrove Gardens. She independently learned the heritage craft of straw braiding to produce historically accurate hats.
Other winners included Barnaby Horn for Young Entrepreneur, Patrick Holden of the Sustainable Food Trust for Advocate of the Year, and Auchinleck Primary School for Community Partnership of the Year. The Akoje Residency, founded by Maro Itoje and Khalil Akar, won International Impact for supporting artists from African, Caribbean and SWANA regions.