King Charles received a warm welcome from David Beckham as he arrived at an event organised by the British Fashion Council this afternoon.
The Monarch, 74, who was dressed in a smart pin-striped blue suit, shook hands with the footballer, 48, as he arrived at the special industry showcase organised by the BFC in London.
Today’s event marked the sixth edition of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, which recognises the role played by British design and fashion in the country’s culture and trade.
The Sovereign award this year’s prize to Sierra Leon native Foday Dumbuya, founder and creative director of fashion label Labrum London, who was also in attendance.
Beckham attended today’s showcase in his capacity as the Council’s Ambassadorial President, a role he has held since 2018.
King Charles received a warm welcome from David Beckham as he arrived at an event organised by the British Fashion Council in London this afternoon
The King looked very dapper as he stepped out this afternoon, wearing a finely tailored pin-striped blue suit.
He paired it with a crisp white shirt, a grey and pink tie and a pink and blue pocket square.
Meanwhile, football legend wore a smart black suit with a white shirt and black tie.
The two men warmly shook hands as the King arrived at the event, hosted at 180 Studios.
The former England football captain handed King Charles a jar of honey.
The King, who has kept beehives at his royal estates, thanked him and joked: ‘We shall have to do a swap.’
David Beckham is said to have fallen in love with beekeeping during lockdown and built a £500 hive in the garden of his Cotswolds home.
As the BFC’s ambassadorial president, he showed the King items from the organisation’s New Gen initiative, which supports emerging talent.
King Charles shared a hearty laugh with this year’s recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II British Design Award, Foday Dumbuya, right
The Monarch, 74, was dressed in a smart pin-striped blue suit, which he paired with a white shirt and a pink and grey tie. Pictured with Caroline Rush, chief executive of the British Fashion Council, left
Speaking before the event he said he felt ‘excited’ to meet the King, describing himself as a big admirer of the royal family and of fashion, since he was a youngster.
Foday Dumbuya, this year’s recipient of the Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design, opted for an eye-catching lime green suit.
The King addressed the crowd from a lectern before he awarded the prize to Dumbuya.
The designer was handed his award by the King, and could be seen beaming throughout today’s event.
The showcase highlighted the different initiatives the BFC is undertaking to nurture talent around the UK.
It also enjoyed a performance curated by Dumbuya, featuring two drummers, a guitarist, a kora player, and a musician who impressed the crowd with their powerful vocals.
The King and the footballer warmly shook hands as they met ahead of the showcase this afternoon
It appeared that David Beckham gifted the Sovereign with a jar of his own home produced honey, Golden Bees
The Monarch looked delighted with the impromptu gift and was seem smiling at David Beckham
The Monarch, who is known for his impeccable fashion taste, looked dapper for his afternoon in London
King Charles addressed the crowds during the showcase ,before handing this year’s award to Dumbuya
Dumbuya told Women’s Wear Daily that the award is ‘a testament to the hard work and dedication of myself and the countless individuals who supported me get where we are today. And also the tremendous amount of work that my team has put together.’
The designer dedicated his win to the Sierra Leonean community in the UK.
Labrum London, which means ‘having an edge’ in Latin, was founded in 2014, with the aim to make stylish and practical clothes with a mix of West African and British influences.
The designer gifted the Monarch with a statuette during today’s showcase, which rewarded Dumbuya’s unique sense of style
Beckham was seen chatting with Award winner Dumbuya and Saul Nash, who won last year’s award, left, during today’s showcase
The designer beamed as he received the prize from a grinning King Charles. The prize is inspired by the Queen Elizabeth rose
The Sovereign accessorised with a light grey and pink tie, and a blue and pink pocket square today, while Beckham wore a dotted black tie and white shirt with his black suit
David Beckham, who is the Council’s Ambassadorial President, looked happy and relaxed during today’s showcase
It made its London Fashion Week in February 2021 and has been showing every year ever since.
The King also spoke to several young designers who benefited from the BFC’s scholarships and support schemes, and was shown handbags, clothing and shoes made from sustainable material.
Pausing to look at a tight crop top, he joked: ‘Does that stretch? I do hope so.’
US actor Woody Harrelson also attended the annual event after flying from Los Angeles and thanked the King for ‘everything you do – I really appreciate it’.
The King was showed the inflated psir of trousers Sam Smith wore to the Brit Awards earlier this year
The Monarch met with Hollywood actor Woody Harrelson and his wife Louise Louise, who attended the showcase
British Vogue’s Editor-in-Chief Edward Enninful was also present and was seen speaking with the Monarch
The Sovereign complimented Dumbuya as he arrived at the showcase and took a closer look at his line
Mr Harrelson’s 2020 documentary Kiss The Ground explored solutions to the climate crisis, while the King helped establish the SMI Sustainable Fashion Taskforce as Prince of Wales, which pioneers a sustainable future for the fashion industry.
Stopping to talk to a young designer whose high heels were made of plastic salvaged from the sea, the King said: ‘I have always said one man’s waste is another man’s property.’
The inaugural Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was presented to Richard Quinn in February 2018 when the late Queen made her first visit to London Fashion Week.
Speaking to a room packed with designers, the King said: ‘Ladies and gentlemen, I am sorry if I kept you waiting a little bit. There were too many fascinating young designers downstairs.
‘I wanted to use this moment to congratulate all those who I know are working so hard having been through their colleges.
‘I do hope you do really well and I shall be watching from a distance.’
The King offered an ‘enormous congratulations’ to Mr Dumbuya, who said he hoped to inspire young people from Sierra Leone and London to follow their dreams.
The King admired Mr Dumbuya’s items in his design workshop, where he high-fived his two-year-old son, Idris, joking: ‘You did very well to recognise me.’
Caroline Rush, chief executive officer at the British Fashion Council, said that the designer’s work speaks to what is unique and compelling about UK fashion.
The Queen Elizabeth II Award for British Design was created in 2018 and reward one designer selection by the BFC, in collaboration with the Royal Family each year.
The Trophy is inspired by the Queen Elizabeth rose, and hand-made by Lucy Price at Bauhinia Studios and in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter.
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