King Charles Hosts Amal, George Clooney Who Once Defended Harry and Meghan
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources.
Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content.
George and Amal Clooney were welcomed into Buckingham Palace by King Charles Wednesday, six years after the couple issued a passionate public defense of Meghan Markle.
Some royal watchers may associate the Clooneys with high-profile comments George made in February 2019 stating Meghan was being "pursued and vilified and chased" by the media "in the same way that Diana was."
They were also among the most famous names at Harry and Meghan's wedding in 2018 and the Sussexes stayed with the Clooneys twice, at Lake Como and their house in Sonning, Berkshire.
On Wednesday, the power couple joined makeup entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury to meet the king, before brushing shoulders with the great and good of the British showbiz scene, in the 10th year of the King's Trust International. The King's Trust also marks its 50th year in 2026.
Tilbury told Newsweek: "I feel incredibly honored to be an Ambassador for Enterprise for The King's Trust. He is a global visionary. The king has always been ahead of his time, if you think about what he did with Climate change, what he has done understanding how he can help communities out, how he can empower young people."
King Charles III poses for a group photo with George and Amal Clooney, Charlotte Tilbury and other stars as well as winners of the King's Trust Awards 2025 during a reception at Buckingham Palace on...
King Charles III poses for a group photo with George and Amal Clooney, Charlotte Tilbury and other stars as well as winners of the King's Trust Awards 2025 during a reception at Buckingham Palace on June 25, 2025. More
Stefan Rousseau-That was all before the royal rift exploded into public consciousness but family drama has not interfered with another key loyalty.
Amal Clooney has since 2019 been an ambassador for the King's Trust, one of Charles' most important charities, set up in 1976, when he was in his 20s.
The trust has its annual awards Thursday and George and Amal Clooney attended a Buckingham Palace reception Wednesday to celebrate the winners.
Actor Joseph Fiennes, star of Shakespeare in Love and The Handmaid's Tale, will be presenting one of the awards at the Royal Festival Hall on Thursday and attended Wednesday's reception.
He told Newsweek: "It's vital because in the 25 years I've been doing this you just see the extraordinary collection of young potential that has been picked up having been disenfranchised or not given the right opportunities.
"So, I said to His Majesty, maybe it was inappropriate, you are the patron saint of second chances and giving young potential second chances is vital."
Newsweek is an official media partner for the Global Sustainability Award, the winner of which got a chance to share a lighthearted moment with King Charles.
Pascal Ahaisibwe, 20, from Uganda, told Newsweek: "I recycle plastic bottles. I get different products from plastic that I collect around the towns. And I make products like key holders, sugar bowls, flower vessels.
"I have a number of days that I normally go to collect the bottles. I will use one hour to collect the bottles and the other remaining hours to work on them. Mostly I do that during the evening after school time.
"Plastic bottles are a big problem in the town where I live. I really enjoyed meeting the king and I was very happy."
Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on Twitter at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.
Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.
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