King Charles leads royal family in presenting Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education at St James’s Palace in London

King Charles Charles III today presided over the largest assembly of royals since the arrest of his brother, Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.

Joined by Queen Camilla, his sister Princess Anne, and cousins the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, the King handed out awards at St James’s Palace, demonstrating continuity and commitment to public service despite recent family turmoil.

Prince Edward had been expected to attend but withdrew due to illness.

Princess Anne, attending as Chancellor of The University of Edinburgh, received an award for the institution’s Centre for Fire Safety Engineering before later switching from her chancellor’s robes to participate in a meet-and-greet as a working royal.

Royal Family Shows Support Amid Scandal

The ceremony comes in the wake of serious allegations against Prince Andrew, who was arrested last week in relation to claims of misconduct during his time as a UK special trade envoy.

Reports suggest he passed official and classified documents to the convicted paedophile Jeffrey Epstein.

King Charles addressed the situation directly, expressing his “deepest concern” and pledging full support and cooperation with authorities.

“My family and I will continue in our duty and service to you all,” he stated, underscoring his commitment to the nation despite personal challenges.

Celebrating Academic and Practical Excellence

The awards presented were The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education, recognising outstanding contributions from universities and colleges across the country.

Nineteen institutions received accolades for groundbreaking research, innovation, and educational excellence.

Projects ranged from sustainable textile solutions to higher education in prisons, and from Paralympic performance research to cutting-edge cancer treatment development.

King Charles presented silver gilt medallions featuring Queen Elizabeth’s cypher, while Queen Camilla handed out scrolls designed by Central Saint Martins students.

Following the presentations, the royal family engaged directly with recipients at a reception, hearing firsthand about their work.

Highlighting Impactful Research and Social Initiatives

Notable awardees included:

• Loughborough University, recognised for world-class Paralympic athlete research, enhancing health outcomes and elite sports performance globally.

• London Metropolitan University, for pioneering research ending violence against women and girls, a cause long championed by Queen Camilla.

• University of Nottingham, for mapping modern slavery from space to guide governments, NGOs, and businesses in liberating thousands from exploitation.

• University of Oxford, for OpenSAFELY, a platform enabling life-saving NHS research while safeguarding patient privacy.

• Lancaster University, for developing the micro:bit, inspiring coding and digital literacy among millions of children worldwide.

Other winners included The University of Edinburgh, Gateshead College, Hull College, the Institute of Cancer Research, University of Leeds, Leeds Beckett University, Newcastle University, North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College, North West Regional College, University of Salford, Royal College of Music, Scotland’s Rural College, and University of Southampton — each recognised for unique contributions spanning technology, sustainability, education, healthcare, and societal impact.

The Human Touch of Royal Engagement

Paralympian Thomas Young, 25, told Princess Anne how the award elevated the profile of his research.

Professor Fiona Vera-Gray of London Metropolitan University praised Queen Camilla’s longstanding commitment to ending violence against women, noting that the royal family’s involvement has amplified the reach and impact of critical social issues.

“It’s hugely special to have the Royal Family recognise this work,” Professor Vera-Gray said.

“Their support gives a platform for survivors’ voices to be heard and action to be taken.”

What’s Next?

The Royal Family will continue to engage with award-winning institutions and high-impact research projects across the UK, maintaining visibility on issues of education, social reform, sustainability, and innovation.

The Queen Elizabeth Prizes are expected to remain a biennial highlight, reinforcing the monarchy’s role in celebrating and promoting excellence nationwide.

Summary

King Charles led a major royal gathering at St James’s Palace, joined by Queen Camilla, Princess Anne, and other senior royals, to present The Queen Elizabeth Prizes for Higher and Further Education.

Nineteen UK universities and colleges were honoured for pioneering research, social impact, and innovative education.

The ceremony occurred amid heightened scrutiny following Prince Andrew’s arrest, with King Charles and the royal family reaffirming their commitment to duty, service, and public engagement.

Awardees included institutions tackling modern slavery, Paralympic research, ending violence against women, sustainability, and digital literacy, highlighting the breadth of transformative work recognised at the national level.