King Charles puts on united royal front during St James’s Palace ceremony
King Charles appeared alongside several senior royals at St James’s Palace in London on Tuesday morning as the Royal Family continued public duties during a period of intense scrutiny following the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor. The engagement brought together the monarch and Queen Camilla with Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester for the presentation of the Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Education.
At the ceremony, Hello Magazine reported that the King presented awards to 19 universities and colleges recognised for innovation and excellence, including work on sustainability in the textile industry, higher education provision in prisons and research into Paralympic performance.
The Duke of Edinburgh had been expected to attend but withdrew at the last minute because of illness, according to the same report. Hello quoted its royal editor Ms Emily Nash describing the appearance as a show of unity, saying it would be a comfort for the King to have close family alongside him during what she called a “hugely challenging time”.
The event follows the King’s response to developments involving his brother, when he issued a statement saying the law must take its course while adding that he and his family would continue with their duties and service.
After the presentation, the royals met recipients at a reception to hear about their award-winning projects, with a formal honours ceremony expected later this year. The latest engagement underlines the Palace’s focus on maintaining the public schedule while the investigation continues.
