King Charles mingles with Love Island host Maya Jama and Tess Daly at palace garden party
King Charles has been spotted rubbing shoulders with celebs like Maya Jama and Tess Daly at a Buckingham Palace garden party today, Wednesday 15 May, as he gets back into the swing of Royal duties.
The 75 year old King, alongside Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, and the Duchess of Gloucester, hosted 4,000 guests from the worlds of culture, art, heritage, and entertainment to highlight their contribution to the UK's economy.
Stars such as Strictly Come Dancing host Tess Daly, her husband Vernon Kay and Love Island host Maya Jama - who looked incredible in an off-the-shoulder blue dress with a matching hat – were in attendance. Other famous faces on the guest list were model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and her beau Jason Statham, Capital FM's Roman Kemp, dance icon Dame Arlene Phillips, filmmaker Louis Theroux, and artist Tracey Emin.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla looked stunning in a pink Anna Valentine dress and Philip Treacy hat, accessorised with the late Queen's pink diamond flower brooch, as she chatted away with Radio One's Clara Amfo and comedy legend Sir Lenny Henry.
Buckingham Palace shared: "From theatre to video games, publishing to design, museums and galleries to film sets and music studios, the creative industries, and the creators and organisations within them, bring happiness, prosperity and help shape the world around us."
The garden party was part of King Charles' packed schedule today, starting with a special service at St Paul's Cathedral where he and Camilla donned striking red robes. This comes just a week after Prince Harry attended a solo service at the same venue for his Invictus Games during his UK visit last week, reports the Mirror.
The King and Queen Consort wore the red robes, known as the mantle of the OBE, which were carried by a page of honour. The event was attended by nearly 2,000 members of the public who hold the order's awards, including CBEs, OBEs and MBEs.
Charles is continuing his return to public duties following his cancer diagnosis earlier this year. While continuing his weekly treatment, the monarch is also engaging in regular meetings with palace staff, dealing with government Red Boxes and committing to several high-profile events. These include the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Normandy and the Royal Ascot festival, which kicks off on 18 June.
Buckingham Palace confirmed yesterday that the King's schedule would be adjusted based on his ongoing treatment and how he feels each day. Insiders revealed it was "incredibly encouraging" to see the monarch conduct his first investiture ceremony in five months, with his previous one held on 19 December, a month before his hospital admission for prostate treatment.
One source shared with The Mirror: "The King is in great spirits and as full of positivity as I've ever seen him."
"He's already told aides he is absolutely determined to make several dates in the summer months, including the D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations and attend Trooping the Colour (the King's official birthday celebrations in London on June 15) which is wonderful news. There's certainly a feeling that he wants to makeup for lost time."
