Latest news with #PrinceOfWales
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The King and Idris Elba team up for new Netflix documentary film
The King and British actor Idris Elba have teamed up for a new Netflix film about the charity that 'changed' the star's life. The film will explore The King's Trust – a youth charity set up by Charles when he was the Prince of Wales, as it celebrates its 50th anniversary – to highlight how the charity has helped young people around the world, documenting 'the power of believing in young people'. The Luther star, who was a beneficiary of a grant from the trust, will accompany the King as he shares insights into his support for the charity. Elba said: 'The King's Trust gave me an opportunity that changed my life. 'At a time when I didn't have the resources to pursue my ambitions, they offered real, practical support — including financial help — that helped me take those first steps to advance my career. 'Around the world, millions are still waiting for that one door to open. This documentary is about shining a light on what's possible when it does — and why the work of The King's Trust remains so important.' Formerly known as The Prince's Trust, the charity was set up by Charles to help disadvantaged young people overcome challenging circumstances, get into employment or launch their own businesses. It has since become one of the UK's leading youth organisations and has helped more than 1.3 million young people to date with celebrity ambassadors including former England football manager Sir Gareth Southgate and presenters Ant and Dec. Jonathan Townsend, UK chief executive of The King's Trust, said: 'At its heart, this is a documentary about the power of believing in young people. It's about an idea, driven by a young Prince who was determined to make a positive difference, that when young people are supported to succeed, we all succeed. 'Almost 50 years on, the momentum behind this idea has seen more than 1.3 million young people supported in over 20 countries around the world, including more than a million in the UK alone, through the work of The King's Trust. 'Nobody understands the impact of this work better than those who have experienced the support we offer first hand. As a long-term supporter and former beneficiary of The Trust himself, Idris will undoubtedly bring a unique perspective to this groundbreaking documentary as he peels back the layers of our story and shows how our life-changing work is as relevant today as it has ever been.' The film will be directed by Bafta-winning filmmaker Ashley Francis-Roy, with young people supported by the Trust helping the production team to build experience in film and television. The documentary is produced by 22 Summers, the production company co-founded by Elba, and due to be released in autumn 2026.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Princess of Wales makes public statement after pulling out of Ascot
The Princess of Wales has issued her first public statement since pulling out of Royal Ascot at the last minute. She dropped out of a planned appearance at the prestigious horse race meeting after she had been due to make a return to the spectacle on Wednesday. The Princess, 43, missed last year's event when she was undergoing cancer treatment. She was said to be disappointed to not attend the racing event alongside her husband, the Prince of Wales, but was still striving to find the right balance as she fully returns to public-facing engagements. On Friday, in her first statement since the announcement, the Princess praised the 'life-changing' work carried out by children's hospices. The mother of three marked Children's Hospice Week and the work done by hospices in 'lifting spirits' of seriously ill children. As patron of East Anglia Children's Hospices (Each) and Tŷ Hafan Children's Hospice in South Wales, she said: 'I have the immense privilege of seeing for myself the extraordinary work of our children's hospices. 'Lifting spirits through laughter, fun and play, as well as listening, holding, caring and sharing, they support children and families through life, death and beyond.' The Princess's message added: 'This Children's Hospice Week, I hope you will join me in celebrating the life-changing work they do and thanking them for the vital care they provide to children and families experiencing the most challenging times.' The message has been shared on social media channels by the two hospices she is patron of and the UK charity for seriously ill children and families, Together for Short Lives. Children's Hospice Week, from June 16-22, is organised by Together for Short Lives and is the only week dedicated to raising funds and awareness for the services across the country. The Princess has been a royal patron of each for more than 10 years and has long been a champion of the work that children's hospices do. The Princess's message, released on Friday afternoon, also read: 'No parent expects to hear that their child has a serious health condition that could shorten their life. 'Sadly, this is the reality faced by thousands of families across the country, leaving them heart-broken, fearful of the future and often desperately isolated. 'Being able to access the support of one of the UK's 54 children's hospices means they don't have to face that future alone.' The Princess has in recent years made early years campaigning work her main focus after launching Shaping Us, a major new public awareness campaign in 2023 about the importance of early childhood. Through the initiative, Catherine aims to improve society's understanding of the significance of early childhood in shaping adulthood and society as a whole.
BBC News
a day ago
- Climate
- BBC News
Royal Ascot 2025: Dozens fall ill on second day of event
Dozens of people required medical assistance because of heat-related illness on the second day of Royal Ascot, racecourse officials have confirmed. The event attracted over 41,000 spectators on Wednesday, during which temperatures reached 29.7C (85F). A Royal Ascot spokesperson said one person was taken to hospital while a further 42 received treatment on site. Free water is being provided to all those attending, the spokesperson added. They also said additional gazebos and parasols had been are kept cool using misting fans and a mobile water bowser with a 1,000-litre (264-gallon) total, more than 250,000 people are expected to attend the five-day event, which ends on Saturday. The event was founded by Queen Anne in 1711 and is now well known as a key social occasion, as well as a sporting Charles, Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales appeared in a carriage procession at the event on Wednesday - but the Princess of Wales was not in attendance. Amber heat health alerts were issued across the whole of England from 09:00 BST on Thursday, with temperatures likely to exceed 30C for the first time this UK Health Security Agency said "significant impacts are likely" for health and social care services, including increased follows a period of high temperatures across the UK with yellow heat health-alerts having previously been in place. You can follow BBC Berkshire on Facebook, X (Twitter), or Instagram.
The Independent
a day ago
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Prince of Wales and Cate Blanchett don lab coats to see eco brand at work
The Prince of Wales and Cate Blanchett donned lab coats as they witnessed the hi-tech work of an environmentally-friendly clothes dye company. William and the actress visited labs in Norwich on Thursday where Colorifix, a biotechnology firm, creates its textile dyes. Colorifix, which was a finalist in William's Earthshot Prize in 2023, has developed a biological process that replaces the use of harmful chemicals in textile dyes. Since it was founded in 2016, the brand has partnered with fashion brands including H&M and Pangaia. As William and Blanchett were taken through each step of the process to make the eco-friendly dyes, the Prince of Wales asked Sophie Vaud, the head of microbial engineering, to provide a 'layman's version' of the science. After identifying a colour created naturally by an animal or plant, Colorifix's scientists sequence the DNA of that organism to find out where the colour is coded in its genetics. That DNA code is then translated into a safe microbe which is then fermented to grow, creating a dye that can be used on natural and synthetic fabrics. Dyes made chemically have a negative impact on the environment as they seep into rivers, harming wildlife. The process also uses a large amount of water. The Prince of Wales and Blanchett, a council member of the Earthshot Prize, were invited to observe DNA gel under a microscope and were shown diagrams analysing the effectiveness of the pigments. 'What if it explodes?' Blanchett, joked before looking at the sample. 'I'm not going to pretend I know what that drawing means,' William told the experts when being shown diagrams. The pair were then taken through the fermentation process which is where the dye is produced in a small version which can be scaled up. David Clarke, head of fermentation at Colorifix, which is based in Norwich Research Park on the edge of the city, said their fermentation to produce the dyes is 'just like brewing'. 'We use a genetically-engineered bacteria to produce the substance – in this case colourants. In the brewing industry it's ethanol. 'Traditional dyeing is very, very polluting. This is completely innocuous.' William and Blanchett were wowed by the range of colours produced when shown samples in the colouration lab, especially a bright teal. In that lab, the dyes are sampled on a range of fabrics and then washed and tumble dried to test how they work and if there is any run off. Rebecca Hiscock, a colouration technician, showed them some of the samples. 'It's like Blue Peter – here's one I made earlier,' William said. Meeting the rest of the Colorifix team, the Prince of Wales said: 'Sorry for all the stupid questions you'll hear about later.' He complimented the staff for their 'fantastic' work since Colorifix got to the final of the Earthshot Prize two years ago. The Prince of Wales is founder and president of the global environmental award and Blanchett helps pick the winners. 'It's going really well, and it's really exciting,' he said, while Blanchett told them their work was 'really inspiring'.
The Guardian
2 days ago
- General
- The Guardian
Princess of Wales pulls out of attending Royal Ascot
The Princess of Wales pulled out of attending Royal Ascot on Wednesday as she continued to seek the right balance of public engagements after her treatment for cancer. Catherine was said to be disappointed at not attending the race meeting with her husband and King Charles and Queen Camilla. She has been making a gradual return to public duties since it was announced in January that she was in remission from cancer. Her public appearances have increased in recent weeks and she has attended three high-profile events including trooping the colour, the annual Order of the Garter service and a visit to a Victoria and Albert Museum storage facility in London. But it is understood she is trying to find the right balance as she fully returns to public-facing engagements. Racegoers had been hoping to see Catherine, after the Prince of Wales was named as one of the figures awarding race prizes during the second day of the meeting. Ascot officials had announced in a carriage list that the princess was due to be in the second carriage in the royal procession, alongside William. Less than half an hour later, Kensington Palace confirmed that Catherine would not be attending and Ascot published a revised carriage list.
