It was a night where Hollywood elegance met royal tradition.
George and Amal Clooney, known as much for their style and social causes as their A-list status, brought extra sparkle to Buckingham Palace on Tuesday evening.
The couple turned heads as they arrived for a glitzy reception hosted by King Charles himself.
A-List Guests Join the Royal Celebration
The occasion? A special reception in honour of the King’s Trust Awards, drawing a glittering crowd of VIPs. Amal, ever the picture of poise, wore an off-the-shoulder black dress, while George looked sharp by her side.
The couple were seen chatting warmly with King Charles and fellow guests, clearly at ease in the royal setting.
Also mingling with the monarch were make-up queen Charlotte Tilbury, beloved actress Dame Joanna Lumley, actor Joseph Fiennes, TV favourites Declan Donnelly and Fearne Cotton, and model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley.
Even the Sugababes were there, adding a nostalgic pop touch to the glamorous guest list.
Celebrating Young Talent with a Royal Touch
The night was about more than celebrity moments.
It was held to honour the winners of this year’s King’s Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards, which celebrate exceptional young people supported by the trust.
King Charles, who founded the original Prince’s Trust in 1976, has since expanded its reach internationally, now supporting over 100,000 young people in 20 countries.
Amal Clooney had a particularly meaningful presence at the event.
She joined Alice from Kenya, winner of the Amal Clooney Woman’s Empowerment Award, spotlighting global female leadership and activism.
A Royal Bond That Goes Back Years
The Clooneys’ connection to the royal family isn’t new.
They famously attended Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s 2018 wedding, mingling with 600 guests at St George’s Chapel.
According to the biography Finding Freedom, Harry and Meghan even jetted off to Lake Como shortly after the ceremony—on George’s private plane, no less.
The couple reportedly spent the weekend relaxing by the pool with Amal and their twins, while George showed Harry his motorbike collection.
Princess Eugenie and her then-fiancé Jack Brooksbank were also said to have been staying at the Clooney villa that same weekend.
A Gorilla Puppet Steals the Show
Earlier that day, King Charles had already been charmed—this time, by a life-sized gorilla puppet.
Operated by artists from the public art group The Herds, the puppet made a grand entrance down the palace staircase before extending a hand to the King.
The troupe, which is travelling from the Congo Basin to the Arctic Circle, is on a mission to raise awareness about climate change and humanity’s bond with nature.
Honey, Jokes, and Climate Conversations
The King also met with international guests, including Mona Ainu’u, Minister of Natural Resources from the Pacific Island of Niue.
She presented him with a jar of local honey, quipping that she’d heard he enjoys it in his tea.
With a laugh, Charles replied, “Where did you hear that?” before quoting Dame Barbara Cartland: “A spoonful of honey a day keeps you more than lovable.”
He also expressed interest in finally visiting Niue, saying, “I’ll keep trying.”
Elsewhere, he spoke with Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment, about preparations for the Cop30 climate summit in Belém this November.
Although the King seemed eager to attend, he admitted, “It’s fitting it all in” was the challenge.
Sabrina Elba Talks Netflix with the King
Another familiar face at the event was Sabrina Elba, wife of actor Idris Elba and a UN Goodwill Ambassador.
She mentioned the recently announced Netflix documentary featuring King Charles and Idris Elba, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the King’s Trust.
When she congratulated him, Charles seemed momentarily confused, asking, “Which documentary?” prompting a laugh from Elba, who reminded him: “Your documentary with Idris!”
She later told reporters the King had jokingly admitted he’s lost track of how many documentaries he’s been involved in.
Drawing Praise from the Art World
Earlier in the week, Charles was also honoured by leading artists for his dedication to the arts and drawing.
A reception at St James’s Palace celebrated 25 years of his Royal Drawing School, and high praise came from stars like Dame Tracey Emin, who called him a “lucky gift” to the country, and Grayson Perry, who described him as “very special.”
Both artists stood out for their footwear—Crocs. Emin wore a dark pair, while Perry’s were, fittingly, brightly painted to match his orange dress.
Celebrating 25 Years of Creative Legacy
The night also marked the launch of a new exhibition, The Power of Drawing, featuring work from 50 leading artists and alumni of the Royal Drawing School, including David Hockney and Charles himself.
On display is a sketch of Highgrove House, drawn by the King in 2000.
The exhibition will run at the Royal Drawing School in Shoreditch from July 1 to 26, and it’s free for the public—offering a glimpse into the creative side of the monarch and his commitment to nurturing artistic talent.