The Royals preserve calm and stick with it: Charles, Queen Camilla and Princess Anne come collectively in largest gathering of the household since Andrew’s arrest
King Charles today led the largest gathering of royals since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
His Majesty was accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, sister Princess Anne and cousins the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester as he handed out awards at St James’s Palace.
Prince Edward had been due to attend but pulled out citing a cold.
The Princess Royal attended in her capacity as Chancellor of The University of Edinburgh, which received an award for research and education by its Centre for Fire Safety Engineering.
Initially wearing her chancellor’s robes, she later changed out of them to conduct a meet and greet afterwards as a working royal.
Following his brother’s arrest last week by police investigating allegations of misconduct in public office relating to his time working a UK special trade envoy, during which time it has been claimed he passed official and classified documents to his friend, the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein, Charles expressed his ‘deepest concern’ at events and offered his full support and cooperation to police.
He also pledged that ‘my family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all’.
Today he was handing out The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education in recognition of outstanding work at UK universities and colleges.
King Charles today led the largest gathering of royals since the arrest of Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor as he handed out awards at St James’s Palace
His Majesty was accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, handing out The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education at St James’s Palace
The Princess Royal attended in her capacity as Chancellor of The University of Edinburgh, which received an award for research and education by its Centre for Fire Safety Engineering
The ceremony saw 19 universities and colleges recognised for their innovation and excellence across a range of subject areas, from a centre tackling sustainability in the textile industry, to a partnership providing higher education in prisons and groundbreaking research into Paralympic performance.
The family walked in together to the Picture Gallery at the palace, which was built by Henry VIII, for the ceremony with the King and Queen standing for the National Anthem before taking their seats on a small stage.
The King handed out silver gilt medallions to the winners, bearing the cypher of Queen Elizabeth, while the Queen presented scrolls designed by students at Central Saint Martins College of art printed with gold leaf and signed by the King.
Following the presentations, the royal party met recipients at a reception to hear more about their award-winning work.
The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education are part of the UK national honours system, recognising at the highest level of state outstanding work in universities and colleges.
First awarded by the late Queen in 1995 and now in their 16th round, the Prizes are granted every two years on the advice of the Prime Minister following a rigorous review process managed by the Royal Anniversary Trust, an independent charity.
Paralympian Thomas Young, 25, a student at Loughborough University, spoke to Princess Anne.
The university won an award for its world-class research enhancing the performance of athletes at the Paralympics.
He said: ‘An award like this really raises the profile of what we are doing and have achieved, but particularly when it is associated with the Royal Family.’
Queen Camilla spoke warmly with Professor Fiona Vera-Gray from London Metropolitan University who were recognised for their their world-leading research unit dedicated to ending violence against women and girls.
Professor Vera-Gray said afterwards that she had first met Camilla as Duchess of Cornwall when she visited a rape crisis centre in Croydon, South London, some 20 years ago – a visit that inspired the royal to dedicate much of her public work to the issue of preventing sexual and domestic violence against women.
She said: ‘I really mean it when I say that her support has taken the issue to another level. When someone like her involves herself in the issues it’s really something. We really appreciate it.
‘This prize is a platform where you can have a voice for the survivors of sexual violence and the fact that the Royal Family recognises it is hugely important.
‘When Camilla first came to visit the Rape Crisis centre all those years ago she sat and listened and learned. It wasn’t an issue that was really spoken about then. But she was willing to and that meant a lot. And then she carried on with it and still campaigns today. That’s impressive.
‘We do the work we do not to win prizes but because it matters to us. But this will help us to fight and advocate change. It’s hugely special.’
King Charles and Queen Camilla present awards to representatives from the University of Nottingham
Queen Camilla speaks to a guest during a reception after the presentation ceremony at St James’s Palace
The Duke of Gloucester was in attendance with his wife for the ceremony on Tuesday
