Queen joins Charles at Prince’s Trust birthday engagement

It was a joint engagement for The Queen and Prince Charles today, as Her Majesty visited a Prince’s Trust centre in London.

At The Prince’s Trust base in Kennington, the mother and son duo heard stories from those who have been helped by the charity and its programmes, which aim to equip young people with the skills, tools and confidence needed to move into work, education or training.

The Queen and The Prince of Wales arriving at the Prince's Trust centre in London. Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images

The Queen and The Prince of Wales arriving at the Prince’s Trust centre in London. Picture by Stephen Lock / i-Images

In its four decades of operation, Charles’ charity has supported 825,000 people.

The trust turns 40 this year, and was was celebrated in a documentary earlier this year, presented by Ant and Dec, which featured a number of intimate interviews with Charles, Camilla and Prince William and brother Harry.

The Queen and The Prince of Wales cut a large birthday cake (vanilla sponge and lemon buttercream) bearing the charity’s logo to mark the occasion. It was baked by La’Tifah Atkinson-Campbell, who was supported by the trust.

They saw the charity’s science, technology, engineering and mathematics initiatives, to encourage people into jobs in the sector. Then it was to a digital classroom.

Martina Milburn, the Trust’s chief executive, said: “For 40 years the Prince’s Trust has been working to support young people because we believe that everyone deserves a chance.

“The Prince of Wales has worked tirelessly during that time to make a real difference to young people. It was a privilege to show Her Majesty some of this work.”

A number of celebrity ambassadors were also at the ehadquarters, including Damien Lewis and wife Helen McCrory,

Homeland actor Lewis explained that he thanked Her Majesty for an Ascot racing tip given to him at the BAFTAs last year. “You gave me a simply fantastic tip for Royal Ascot for which I am grateful,” he told The Queen.

“I asked for the Grand National because that’s the only time we’re there and she said ‘no, no, no, that’s miles away – you need tips for Royal Ascot first’,” he revealed.

Charles and his mother also spoke with entrepreneurs helped by start-up loans from the trust.

The last visit The Queen paid to the centre was back in 2008, when she gave a speech, saying that she and The Duke of Edinburgh were ‘enormously proud…of his personal contribution to this remarkable organisation.’

“Countless lives have been transformed by The Prince’s Trust to which The Prince of Wales has brought vision and conviction. For Prince Philip and me, there can be no greater pleasure or comfort than to know that into his care are safely-entrusted the guiding principles of public service and duty to others.”

 

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