Sir Rod Stewart says he has 'huge admiration' for the King's work ethic as monarch tells singer 'he had cancer treatment today' ahead of attending first ever King's Foundation awards
Sir Rod Stewart has said he has ‘huge admiration’ for the way the King has continued to work throughout his cancer treatment.
The British singer, 79, joined the monarch and a host of celebrity ambassadors including David Beckham to mark his star-studded inaugural King’s Foundation Awards.
Charles, 75, whose diary remains busy despite his cancer treatment continuing, was joined at St James’ Palace in London by close friend Sir Rod and his wife Penny Lancaster, who shared a peck on the cheek with the monarch.
Actress Sienna Miller, editor Edward Enninful, model Naomi Campbell, gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh and chef Raymond Blanc also handed out awards.
Lady Penny and Sir Rod were united in their admiration for the King and what he has achieved.
Sir Rod Stewart has said he has ‘huge admiration’ for the way the King has continued to work throughout his cancer treatment
‘It’s wonderful, it’s a great honour. I come from a very poor family and to find myself here in this wonderful place is a great honour. We all have to remember where we come from,’ Sir Rod said.
‘He had treatment today, he told me. I went through all that. I had treatment five days a week. Like him, I was still working. He’s remarkable,’ he added.
The singer revealed in 2019 he had suffered prostate cancer for three years and that he is now in the clear.
Lady Penny, meanwhile, said: ‘Just like my husband, His Majesty’s work ethic is incredible.
'He was the driving force behind looking after the planet, our communities, our historical buildings. He’s been that driving force for so many years before everyone got on the bandwagon.
‘He knew exactly what he was talking about and the fact that he was itching to get back to work and do what he does best.
'He wants to make sure he makes his mark and raises enough awareness among people, so the younger generation will come through and follow on his work.
‘Her Majesty, of course, was the shining beacon and he was always in her shadow. He’s had the best teacher in the world. But it’s his time now.
The British singer, 79, joined the monarch and a host of celebrity ambassadors including David Beckham to mark his star-studded inaugural King’s Foundation Awards
King Charles III embraces Penny Lancaster as they attend the inaugural King's Foundation charity awards at St James's Palace in London
British pop icon Rod Stewart, left, former footballer David Beckham, second left and actress Sienna Miller, centre, speak to King Charles III, right
'We have such respect for him and if we can do anything tiny bit to support him and his dreams and wishes to make it a better place then we absolutely will. We have always been supporters.’
In one hilarious moment during this evening's event, singer Sir Rod publicly teased former England football captain Beckham, 49, telling him his knighthood was coming soon.
Taking to the stage at St James’s Palace in London to present The Teaching Award with his wife, Lady Penny, who is also an ambassador, Sir Rod asked if he could say a few words.
‘Penny and I are so honoured to be ambassadors for the King Trust,’ he said. Lady Penny corrected him: ‘Foundation.’
‘B*******! ‘ Sir Rod laughed, still speaking loudly down the microphone. ‘Oh, I probably shouldn’t have said that!’
Lady Penny, wearing a stunning gold dress, giggled and laughed behind him and pretended to cross herself.
The monarch speaks to former footballer David Beckham as they attend the inaugural King's Foundation charity awards
Actress Sienna Miller, editor Edward Enninful, model Naomi Campbell, gardener and presenter Alan Titchmarsh and chef Raymond Blanc also handed out awards. Pictured, the host of celebs alongside Charles
He then said cheekily and waved his fist triumphantly: ‘I am also wonderfully honoured to be a knight and David, yours is coming soon!’
‘And what about me!’ shouted out legendary chef Raymond Blanc jokingly, who was also presenting an award. Beckham could be seen shaking his head and laughing.
As the singer went back to the crowd to stand next to him the former England football captain whispered, still laughing: ‘Thanks Rod, thanks very much’ and wiped his eyes.
Sir Rod laughed mischievously when asked about his exchange with Beckham. ‘He’s a great man. I know him well and he can take it, he has a great sense of humour,’ he said.
Asked about his slip of the tongue on the microphone he grinned and said: ‘I did swear, didn’t I? Well there’s always got to be someone getting the party started!’
The King’s Foundation Awards have been designed to celebrate students, teachers, alumni and partners of his foundation which provides educational courses, wellbeing programmes and spearheads regeneration projects across the UK, inspired by the monarch’s long-standing ethos of working with nature.
Beckham was recently announced as an ambassador for the King’s Foundation and met with His Majesty at Highgrove.
The King looked delighted to see him again and greeted him warmly. His Majesty referred to England’s recent 1-0 defeat to Iceland and the forthcoming Euros, chuckling: ‘It was very bad luck, I must say, David.’
Beckham replied: ‘No, no, I don’t think we should reward too much into that.’ ‘It doesn’t really matter, does it?’ His Majesty replied. ‘It was a warming up session.’
‘Warming up. We’ll be ok,’ the sportsman said. The King added: ‘Because you don’t want to expend it all in one go at the beginning.‘ ‘We’ll be ready,’ Beckham said.
Tonight’s awards, which are planned to be an annual event, saw nine awards given out, culminating in the monarch personally presenting The King Charles III Harmony Award, given to an individual to recognise their long-term commitment to the foundation’s mission.
The awards also featured live demonstrations of some of The King’s Foundation’s education programmes including furniture-making, woodworking and embroidery.
The charity - which was first founded by the King in 1990 when Prince of Wales - is particularly keen to support learning and entrepreneurship across traditional arts, textiles, rural skills, health and wellbeing and even recently teamed up with CHANEL.
Its headquarter are at Dumfries House in Scotland, which was saved by a consortium led by the King, and also cares for the Castle of Mey in Caithness and Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire. In addition, it runs from three further educational sites in London.
At St James’ Palace tonight 250 guests were greeted by pipers from the National Piping Centre and the Rock Choir who are based in Tetbury and often perform at Highgrove.
