King Charles reunites with Idris Elba as pair team up for very special reason
Idris Elba has joined King Charles at St James's Palace for a discussion on youth opportunities.
King Charles has been reunited with popular actor Idris Elba OBE at a King's Trust event at St James' Palace.
The actor, best known for starring in BBC drama Luther, is an alumnus of The King’s Trust (formerly The Prince’s Trust) and as a teenager he was given a £1,500 grant by the Trust to go to the National Youth Music Theatre.
The pair have met on a number of occasions over the year and enjoy a warm rapport.
Idris joined the King for an event exploring the charity’s ongoing work to support young people, and creating positive opportunities and initiatives which might help address youth violence in the UK.
Seated in the Morning Room, Charles told Elba: “You’re endlessly active with your wonderful foundation and your efforts in Africa, which I’m longing to hear all about.”
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Elba replied: “I can’t wait to tell you, we’ve been focused on the knife crime crisis here and it’s been really good to see the whole country come round and the new Prime Minister, before he was prime minister, was keen to help me bolster the message so it’s been good. Under the former government, we did also manage to get the zombie knife banned, so the campaigning continues and I’m so grateful to have your ear.”
They also discussed the collaboration in Sierra Leone between Prince’s Trust International and the Elba Hope Foundation.
Charles and Elba then joined Cooper, 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.
The Prime Minister, just back from the NATO summit in Washington, arrived and was introduced to Charles, telling the King who was speaking to a group of young people with Lisa Nandy: “Your Majesty, I just arrived back two hours ago. Don’t let me stop you whilst you’re hearing from such important voices.”
Standing with Starmer and Ms Nandy, Charles 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.”
