The King’s Foundation’s inaugural awards ceremony at St. James’ Palace sparked a candid moment from the “Have I Told You Lately” singer
Rod Stewart, King Charles and David Beckham at The Kings’ Foundation Awards at St. James’ Palace on June 11, 2024. PHOTO: KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
Stars collided when King Charles welcomed Rod Stewart, David Beckham and more to St. James’ Palace for the inaugural awards for The King’s Foundation.
The King, 75, stepped out in London on June 11 to attend the first-ever awards for the charity he established as the Prince of Wales in 1990. The King’s Foundation works to create improved communities where people, places and the planet can harmoniously coexist, and the awards are now set to be held annually to celebrate students, teachers, alumni and partners for their work furthering the organization’s aims across a slew of sectors.
Celebrities at the event included Stewart, Beckham, Sienna Miller, Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful, who posed for a group photo with the King.
As seen in a video shared to X by Rebecca English of the Daily Mail, Stewart had something playful to say about the former England soccer captain while on stage.
Rod Stewart and King Charles at The Kings’ Foundation Awards at St. James’ Palace on June 11, 2024.KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
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“Penny and I are so honored to be ambassadors for the King’s Trust,” Stewart began in the clip shared on social media, referring to his wife Penny Lancaster, who interjected to correct him and say, “Foundation,” sparking a laugh from the audience.
“Foundation, my apologies,” the “Forever Young” singer said. “Also, I’m wonderfully honored to be a Knight, and David, yours is coming soon,” he added about Beckham, which prompted even more laughter from the guests.
Stewart was knighted in 2016 for services to music and charity. While Beckham hasn’t been named a knight, he received his OBE for services to soccer in 2003.
King Charles and David Beckham at The Kings’ Foundation Awards at St. James’ Palace on June 11, 2024.KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
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Both Stewart and Beckham presented prizes at the awards, which fell a week after it was announced that the soccer star signed on as an ambassador. On June 1, The King’s Foundation shared that the retired soccer star was taking on the job and recently visited the monarch at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire to learn more about the organization and check out some of the charity’s educational programs at workshops. The King’s Foundation offers educational courses for around 15,000 students each year, as well as health and well-being programs for another 2,000 people annually.
Other offerings include regeneration projects across the U.K. and overseas to revitalize communities and historic buildings.
“I’m excited to be working with The King’s Foundation and to have the opportunity to help raise awareness of the charity’s work. I’ve always been keen to help young people to expand their horizons and I’m particularly looking forward to supporting the Foundation’s education programs and its efforts to ensure young people have greater access to nature,” Beckham said in a statement at the time.
King Charles (center) poses with (from third left) Penny Lancaster, Rod Stewart, David Beckham, Sienna Miller (fourth right), Naomi Campbell and Edward Enninful at The King’s Foundation Awards on June 11, 2024.KIRSTY WIGGLESWORTH/POOL/AFP VIA GETTY
On June 11, The King’s Foundation Awards included live demonstrations of some of the charity’s educational programs like furniture making, woodworking and embroidery, plus architecture and placemaking work. King Charles spent time speaking to students and ambassadors to learn more about how the foundation has made a difference,
The first cycle of the awards featured nine categories, and the monarch personally presented The King Charles III Harmony Award to Ban Ki-moon, the former United Nations Secretary-General. The special award recognizes an individual’s long-term commitment to the mission of The King’s Foundation.