King Charles and Idris Elba beamed as they showed their support for the England team ahead of the Euro finals – after meeting to discuss the future of the King’s Trust, of which the legendary actor is an alum, today.
The monarch, 75, opted for a pinstripe suit and grinned as he proudly brandished an England shirt with performer and musician, 51, at St James’s Palace on Friday.
Idris also donned a dapper all-blue ensemble and posed with a Bukayo Saka shirt following the event.
Discussions ranged from the charity’s ongoing work to support young people to how it can continue creating positive opportunities and initiatives which might help address youth violence in the UK.
The pair also spoke about how the Trust can collaborate with the Elba Hope Foundation in Sierra Leone, where the The Wire star also has citizenship.
King Charles and Idris Elba beamed as they showed their support for the England team ahead of the Euro finals – after meeting to discuss the future of the King’s Trust, of which the legendary actor is an alum, today
Both are also pledging to work together on a new ‘Creative Futures’ initiative, to inspire young people through the arts and support them into jobs in the creative industries.
Idris and Charles also joined in on a roundtable discussion – where Prime Minister Keir Starmer was also present – with people from youth organisations to hear their reflections.
As a teenager, Idris was given a £1,500 grant by The then-Prince’s Trust to go to the National Youth Music Theatre – and has since become an international superstar.
And it’s not the only link he has to the royals – in 2018, the star also DJ’d at Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s wedding.
In 2020, Idris was also among the group of celebrities and creatives to thank the Prince’s Trust in a video released by the charity – to celebrate helping one million young people.
In the clip the actor credited the Trust with giving him the start he needed to launch his now blockbuster career.
‘When I was about 18 years old, I had the wonderful experience of auditioning for The Prince’s Trust,’ he revealed.
‘I was awarded £1,500 by The Prince’s Trust that gave me my start and my career.’
The monarch, 75, opted for a pinstripe suit and grinned as he proudly brandished an England shirt with performer and musician, 51, at St James’s Palace on Friday
Idris also donned a dapper all-blue ensemble and posed with a Bukayo Saka shirt following the event
Idris and Charles also joined in on a roundtable discussion with people from youth organisations to hear their reflections
Idris, who was born in east London to Sierra Leonean father and Ghanaian mother, has since become a household name for his work on TV and film, having won both Emmys and BAFTAs.
The Luther star has worked with The Trust for years, and recorded a short video in 2010 showing him meeting with youth work Dante Lauder-Hawkins for the charity.
In the video, he shared that he grew up on a council estate in Hackney, adding he is ‘so proud’ to come from the area.
Charles and Elba then joined culture secretary and the prime minister Lisa Nandy and a group of young people from youth organisations in the throne room at St James’s Palace, including representatives from UK Youth, BigKid, the Royal Marines, the Youth Endowment Fund and both Charles and Elba’s charities.
Shortly after they began chatting, the Prime Minister, just back from the NATO summit in Washington, arrived and was introduced to the King, who was speaking to a group of young people with Nandy: ‘Your Majesty, I just arrived back two hours ago. Don’t let me stop you whilst you’re hearing from such important voices.
The King held an England shirt as he and Idris posed with youth organisers – to show their support for the national team
England have had a knack for winning the hard way at Euro 2024. Pictured, Charles showing his support for the England team
Earlier this week, although the King was clearly pleased with the run the Three Lions are on, he couldn’t help jokingly asking them to get the job done more calmly. Pictured today in a group photo
Charles looked to be in high spirits as he chatted with Idris – a King’s Trust alum – during the event
The King and the actor appeared to be in deep conversation as they enjoyed chatting at today’s event
Pictured: Charles with Idris, attending an event for The King’s Trust to discuss youth opportunity
Standing with Starmer and Nandy, the monarch said to a group of young people whose lives have been affected by violence and those trying to help support others affected: ‘We’re trying to learn from your experiences. Hopefully there is a chance for the government to help.’
Earlier, Cooper and Nandy had joined a roundtable discussion with the young people present, to hear their experiences and speak about what more can be done to tackle knife crime and youth violence by providing positive opportunities to young people.
The King, the prime minister, Elba, Cooper and Nandy, joined by Charles’s private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, then sat down with the young people and representatives from the King’s Trust and Elba Hope Foundation, for ‘reflections’ on the morning’s discussions and ongoing work.
They heard from Gideon Buabeng, 30, from Croydon, who, after a troubled childhood, survived a knife attack in 2015, before reaching out to the Prince’s Trust in 2016.
There he found a mentor who got him mental health support, helped him into community volunteering and he now works with the Trust helping young people and families in and around his community.
After pledges from Nandy and Cooper to commit to supporting young people, Starmer addressed the roundtable group.
He said: ‘This government will listen to young people, and listen hard. The most important voices around this table are the young people who’ve told us about their experiences. We’ve got to turn this into action. One thing that frustrates me is a lot is to continually have the same conversation, we’re not going to do that. We need to listen, decide what we’re going to do and get on with it. And you have the right to push us. The right to say to Yvette, to me, to Lisa, you said you were going to get on with it – get on with it. It’s now time for action.’
Elba followed him, saying: ‘This topic has always had a spike of interest when we lose a life…our country wants to have a change and is consistently banging on the door for change. We’re fortunate we have a government that is prepared to step into that, the government prior wanted to as well, but right now is a moment for change.
‘Having young people at the table is really, really important – that you speak up. I am a product of intervention, when I was 14, 15 years old, the Prince’s Trust gave me an opportunity and that opportunity came from my drama teacher and my drama teacher was a mentor. You guys are an intervention tool right now, to intervene in young people’s lives right now, and you have the voice so that when I’m gone, you guys are going to be sitting at tables with your own children and be able to intervene, and keep your voices alive.’
Charles had the final word, addressing the group: ‘I’m so proud of Idris Elba, the system worked, didn’t it, with the Prince’s Trust. It seems to me the great ambition now should be to join up all the dots and bring together everybody involved in order to find the right solutions.
‘ I’m very grateful for you all to coming today, and helping with all this, and particularly those who’ve been through the process and experienced so much in their lives and I hope had some benefit from some of the programmes that the King’s Trust/Prince’s Trust and also the Idris Elba Foundation.
‘So I very much look forward to seeing how progress occurs as a result of all of this cavalry.’
Looking at Nandy and then to Starmer, he said: ‘I shall be watching and hoping for progress reports.’
After the event, Charles, Elba and the young advocates posed in the Clarence House garden for a series of group photographs, including one shot with Charles and Elba holding England shirts, a gift brought by Elba for young campaigners.
The event had originally been scheduled to take place some time ago, but was postponed due to the King’s cancer diagnosis in February.
It was then scheduled again before the election, and was to have taken place in Hackney, with previous government ministers present, but was rescheduled due to Rishi Sunak’s decision in June to call a snap election for July.
Speaking after the event, Buabeng said of the King: ‘I liked what the King said, and Idris. I left that table thinking please can we not come here in three years and have the same conversations.’
The royal was pictured conversing to newly-elected Prime Minister Keir Starmer at St James’s Palace
PicturedL King Charles III (left), Idris Elba (right) and Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (centre) at an event for The King’s Trust to discuss youth opportunity
Pictured: Charles talks to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy during today’s event for the King’s Trust
Charles was all smiles as he shook hands with guests and greeted them at St James’s Palace today
Charles and Idris listened attentively as they heard from youth organisers and young people at the event
Asked if he thought it was an issue Charles takes seriously, he said: ‘One hundred per cent. Just having an organisation that supports young people from diverse backgrounds is so important. He doesn’t need to do it but I respect him so much for doing it and having the structure to support people like me.’
It comes as Charles recently enjoyed another celebrity encounter as football player Cole Palmer responded to the King’s urge for England to win in a less stressful manner than they did in their dramatic semi-final victory over the Netherlands.
Gareth Southgate‘s side created history on Wednesday night as they reached the European Championship final on foreign soil for the first time in the country’s history.
The win came in dramatic fashion as substitute Ollie Watkins netted a 90th-minute equaliser to ensure England made it to back-to-back Euros finals under Southgate.
The King made sure to congratulate the Three Lions upon the final whistle but also asked if they ease the stress of the nation by winning in a more straightforward fashion against Spain in the final.
Palmer, who assisted Watkins’s heroic finish, had a simple answer to the Monarch’s request. Speaking on England’s YouTube channel, the forward responded: ‘It is better in the last minute though, init.’
England have had a knack for winning the hard way at Euro 2024. They required a Jude Bellingham overhead kick to force extra-time in the round of 16 against Slovakia, before needing penalties to get past Switzerland in the quarter-final.
And although the King was clearly pleased with the run the Three Lions are on, he couldn’t help jokingly asking them to get the job done more calmly.
He said: ‘My wife and I join all our family in wishing you the warmest congratulations on reaching the final of the U.E.F.A. European Championship – and in sending our very best wishes for Sunday’s match.
‘If I may encourage you to secure victory before the need for any last minute wonder-goals or another penalties drama, I am sure the stresses on the nation’s collective heart rate and blood pressure would be greatly alleviated! Good luck, England.’
Charles beamed as he spoke during the engagement, which took place on Friday at St James’s Palace
Idris looked to speak passionately about the opportunities young people can be given at the event
Pictured: Keir speaking to a guest at today’s event for the King’s Trust, which took place at St James’s Palace
Discussions ranged from the charity’s ongoing work to support young people to how it can continue creating positive opportunities and initiatives which might help address youth violence in the UK
Idris and Charles also joined in on a roundtable discussion with people from youth organisations to hear their reflections
Watkins, the man of the moment on Wednesday, reacted to the message similarly to Palmer.
‘A last minute winner or a penalty shootout is way better than just winning it 2-0 or something,’ said the striker.
‘As much as I want that to happen – winning 2-0 – winning on penalties or a last-minute winner is better.’
The King was not the only member of the royal family to congratulate the Three Lions. Prince William, who is an Aston Villa fan, took to X (formerly Twitter) to praise Watkins and the rest of the team.
The Prince of Wales wrote: ‘What a beauty, Ollie! Congratulations England! #EURO2024 Finalists.’
The Prince has already shown his support for England on multiple occasions throughout this tournament.
He attended England’s last eight penalty shootout victory over the Swiss and was spotted going through all the emotions on that day before personally congratulating the players.
The Prince of Wales, who is the president of the Football Association is expected to travel back to Germany and take his seat inside the Olympiastadion in Berlin for the final, and Watkins wants to see him there.