Latest news with #King'sFoundation
Arab Times
14 hours ago
- Business
- Arab Times
UK Envoy Belinda Lewis Bids Farewell with Big Wins for Culture, Trade & Peace
KUWAIT CITY, July 24: British Ambassador to the State of Kuwait, Her Excellency Belinda Lewis, welcomed journalists to her Residence as she approaches the end of her posting. Reflecting on the past four years, Lewis lauded Kuwait's 'special and long-standing' partnership with the UK - noting that 2025 marks 250 years of bilateral trading ties. She also thanked the Kuwaiti people for their warm hospitality, recalling Ramadan diwaniyas and the Al-Qaffal ceremony marking the end of the pearl diving season as especially memorable cultural experiences. Lewis highlighted February 2024's rollout of the UK's Electronic Travel Authorisation scheme to Kuwaiti nationals as significant in strengthening people-to-people links between the two countries. Kuwaiti nationals made 162,000 trips to Britain in 2024 - a 6% increase from 2023, with Kuwait Airways now offering 19 direct flights a week to London and Manchester. She also expressed delight that an ever-growing number of Kuwaitis are choosing to study at UK universities, with over 10,000 currently undertaking courses there. Noting the UK and Kuwait's rich shared history, Lewis reflected on the success of joint celebrations to mark 125 years of official UK-Kuwait diplomatic relations - rounded off by His Highness the Amir's trip to Scotland to meet His Majesty King Charles III and discuss Kuwait's partnership with the King's Foundation; and His Highness' August 2023 Guest of Government visit to London marking 70 years since the establishment of the Kuwait's sovereign wealth fund, during which he oversaw the signing of a landmark investment partnership. Lewis noted that His Highness had travelled to the UK five times across her tenure, while Kuwait welcomed four UK Cabinet Ministers, including most recently the UK's Foreign Secretary, the Rt Hon David Lammy MP - plus numerous Ministers of State, senior officials and the Duke of Edinburgh. She said Britain was now 'close' to concluding a landmark Free Trade Agreement with the GCC, while praising the UK and Kuwait's burgeoning international humanitarian partnership that has seen the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and the Kuwait Fund for Arab Economic Development announce lifesaving joint funding for communities in Gaza, Yemen, Sudan and Somalia. Asked about the situation in Gaza, Lewis strongly condemned the killing of civilians attempting to access humanitarian aid and called for an immediate end to the conflict, referring to the UK and 27 other countries' 21 July joint statement. She also detailed the Embassy's initiatives to fund specialist training for Kuwaiti medics deploying to Gaza, and its collaboration with the Palestinian Embassy and the British Consulate in Jerusalem to help small Palestinian businesses export their goods to Kuwait - with Lulu Hypermarket making a large order of foodstuffs earlier this year. Lewis expressed confidence that her successor, Qudsi Rasheed (who will arrive in September), would thoroughly enjoy his time in Kuwait, and that UK-Kuwait collaboration - be it on trade & investment, defence & security, education & culture, or climate & environment - would continue to go from strength to strength under his guidance.
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
King Charles' Favorite Garden Is a Toxic Workplace: Staff
King Charles' staff should get counselling, report finds King Charles III's famous garden may look nice, but it's a miserable place to work. A new investigation by the London Sunday Times has uncovered extraordinary allegations by the beleaguered royal gardening team at the king's private Gloucestershire home, Highgrove House. The report claims that, of the 12 full-time gardening staff who were employed there in 2022, 11 have since resigned and been replaced—including not one but two head gardeners. The report paints a picture of a toxic workplace culture at the very heart of the king's cherished sanctuary. Highgrove, a nine-bedroom property bought by the then-Prince of Wales 45 years ago, has long been promoted as a symbol of Charles's deep connection to nature and his eco-conscious values. The gardens, designed with organic principles and celebrated for their 'wild' aesthetic, have played a central role in his public image. More than 40,000 members of the public visit Highgrove's gardens each year, drawn by the king's reputation for environmental stewardship and horticultural passion. It now turns out that, behind the scenes, the environment is anything but harmonious. Former staff describe Charles as 'intensely demanding,' prone to sending critical notes written in thick red ink, and involving himself in minute horticultural details, the Times reports. He said of one gardener who made a simple mistake: 'Do not put that man in front of me again.' One memo from His Majesty reportedly instructed staff to remove a single sprouting weed near the perimeter of a swimming pool. Another reprimanded staff for grammatical errors, and yet another chastized staff after a failed delphinium crop. The mean memos have contributed to a steep decline in staff morale. In 2023, one former employee submitted a formal complaint that described a team 'overwhelmed and struggling to fulfil the king's requests.' The same complaint stated: 'There is little management of His Majesty the King's expectations, and I know I would not be allowed to say we are understaffed.' Compounding the problem is low pay (endemic in royal households). Many gardeners at Highgrove are reportedly paid only the minimum wage, a source of frustration for staff working under high pressure with complex expectations from a demanding boss. The King's Foundation, the charity responsible for managing Highgrove and its operations, responded to the high 'churn' of staff by commissioning an external investigation into the matter. Strikingly, the review concluded that the working environment was so poor that it recommended providing 'mental health support and counselling' for staff, a deeply ironic twist given that Highgrove's gardens are supposed to represent serenity, balance, and peace. The investigation also highlighted a particularly tone-deaf suggestion reportedly made by the king in the aftermath of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. According to The Sunday Times, Charles floated the idea of using Ukrainian refugees or elderly people to volunteer in the gardens. The proposal will reinforce the impression of a monarch wildly out of touch. How the royal family treats its staff has become an interesting part of the public discourse around the monarchy, especially following repeated criticisms of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle for high staff turnover and alleged poor treatment of aides. The revelation that the king himself may be presiding over an even more dysfunctional environment could invite unwelcome comparisons and fresh scrutiny. For a monarch who has tried to present himself as a modernizer and a compassionate leader, it's less than ideal. One gardener said staff were treated like 'dirt,' adding: 'There was anger boiling at the surface … very impatient, no politeness at all.' This person said the king's position made it impossible to speak up: 'It was like, you should be thankful that we've given you a job, and you work for the king, the highest person in the country.' Buckingham Palace did not respond to a request for comment from the Daily Beast, but, in a brief statement to The Sunday Times, The King's Foundation maintained that staff satisfaction is high, citing employee surveys, and also noted the implementation of 'changes to improve team working and communications.' However, it did not appear to address the core allegations of micromanagement or the cultural issues that have led to the exodus of gardening staff. Meghan's Netflix show is officially a bomb With Love, Meghan was positioned as a breakout lifestyle series, but its performance has fallen far short of expectations. New data released by Netflix and reported by Deadline shows the series failed to crack the platform's Top 300 most-watched shows in the first half of 2025. It landed at No. 383, with just 5.3 million global views—comparable to a children's cartoon show called Grizzy and the Lemmings. With Love, Meghan had already been renewed for a second season—set to feature an appearance by Chrissy Teigen later this year—and is linked to Meghan's lifestyle brand, As Ever. Prince Harry's solo project, Polo, a documentary offering a behind-the-scenes look at the horseback sport, did unspeakably badly, ranking No. 3,436, with a mere 500,000 views globally. Bridging the gap Make sure you read The Royalist's colleague Tom Latchem's excellent report into the palace's heavy-handed attempt to control coverage of the king's cancer and the plans for his funeral. Reporters have been threatened with being excluded from royal briefings if they cover the story. As Latchem reports, Buckingham Palace aides went into meltdown after plans for the death of King Charles appeared in The Daily Telegraph, including the revelation that Prince Harry and Meghan will be given a prominent role at the eventual funeral. Solve the daily Crossword
Sky News AU
11-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Sky News AU
'A slap in the face': Knives are out as former royal chef Darren McGrady fumes over alleged King Charles III snub to palace kitchen staff
King Charles III has come under fire from a former royal chef who claims the monarch's decision to bring in a French cook for a state banquet was a "slap in the face" to the palace's long-serving kitchen team. Darren McGrady, who spent years cooking for Queen Elizabeth II, Princess Diana, and Princes William and Harry, publicly criticised the King after celebrated French chef Raymond Blanc was brought in to help create the menu for Tuesday night's banquet at Windsor Castle. "I get that Raymond Blanc is one of the best chefs in the world, and I get that he is a King's Foundation ambassador- but it's a huge slap in the face to the palace royal chefs," McGrady told The Mail. "For sure, Macron will not be bringing in British chefs for a King Charles state visit to France." The lavish white-tie event was held in honour of French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron, who were in the UK for an official three-day state visit. Held inside the grand St George's Hall, the banquet welcomed 160 guests seated along a 50-metre-long table adorned with royal silverware and hand-picked seasonal flowers from the gardens of Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle. As a friend of the 76-year-old monarch and an ambassador for the King's Foundation, Blanc was invited to collaborate with the Royal Household's culinary team. He crafted the first course and the dessert, while the main course was ultimately prepared by the palace's own head chef, Mark Flanagan. Blanc, 75, who runs the renowned Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, defended the decision. "We all have an opinion- and I've got a different one. I like to bring people together," he said. He also explained why he invited Flanagan to take the reins on the main dish. "I wanted to include Mark because he's a royal chef who's cooked for the King for many years, plus he's a great friend – it's all part of respect. "I could have done everything if I'd insisted, but Mark did a beautiful course." The full French-written menu included tender summer vegetables from Le Manoir's gardens with sage, raw tomato and extra virgin olive oil dressing; Rhug Estate chicken with Norfolk asparagus and a French-style tarragon sauce; and an iced blackcurrant parfait with elderflower jelly for dessert. The wine list was just as grand, featuring Domaine Evremond Classic Cuvee, Corton-Charlemagne Grand Cru, Chateau Haut-Brion 1996, and Louis Roederer Carte Blanche. A bespoke cocktail named "L'Entente" made with British gin, lemon curd, French pastis and floral garnishes, was also served. Buckingham Palace said the collaboration reflected the "spirit of the Entente Cordiale". King Charles and President Macron sat together at the centre of the table, alongside Queen Camilla and Brigitte Macron, with other royal family members including the Prince and Princess of Wales, Princess Anne, Prince Edward and Duchess Sophie also in attendance. Celebrity guests included Sir Elton John and Sir Mick Jagger. During his bilingual speech, the King paid tribute to the centuries of shared heritage between Britain and France, saying: "My firm belief is that friendship between Britain and France is vital if the liberties and peace of Europe are to be preserved." President Macron responded with a poetic reflection on the Bayeux Tapestry, which is set to be displayed in the British Museum next year. He called the missing final scenes of the tapestry "a powerful symbol", adding: "In the great mural of Franco-British history, the end is yet to be written- it is up to us to do it."
Daily Mirror
10-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mirror
King Charles accused of 'slap in the face' by Princess Diana's personal aide
King Charles, monarch of the United Kingdom for nearly three years, welcomed French president Emmanuel Macron for a state visit this week, during which they had a banquet King Charles was accused of giving "a huge slap in the face" to the Buckingham Palace royal chefs - by enlisting French icon Raymond Blanc to help prepare this week's state banquet. The monarch is said to have wanted to honour French president Emmanuel Macron by inviting Mr Blanc to assist the palace's own team in preparing food for the function. The first element of Mr Macron's state visit included the lavish meal at Windsor Castle's impressive St George's Hall, which Queen Camilla, the Prince and Princess of Wales and showbiz stars also attended. But Darren McGrady, personal chef to the late Queen Elizabeth, Princess Diana and Princes William and Harry, said Charles' call to use Mr Blanc's support for the bash was unwise. He said: "I get that Raymond Blanc is one of the best chefs in the world, and I get that he is a King's Foundation ambassador, and I get that 'the collaboration is in the spirit of Entente Cordiale (a cordial agreement)' but it's a huge slap in the face to the palace royal chefs." When Buckingham Palace announced Mr Blanc's involvement in the state banquet, a spokesman said he was invited to help "create the first course and dessert". He has a long friendship with the monarch and has been guest speaker at several royal events over the years, including horticulrural festivals at Highgrove. But it is understood while Mr Blanc, who runs Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons in Oxfordshire, was asked to help with the main course, the celebrity cook left that part of the meal to Mark Flanagan, the Royal Household's head chef. Yet, speaking to Mail Online, furious Mr McGrady, 63, added: "For sure, Macron will not be bringing in British chefs for a King Charles state visit to France." Mr McGrady, who worked as the personal chef to Princess Diana and her children until her death in 1997, hit back at the praise Charles has received for the move. Some fans said it was a mark of respect to Mr Macron that King Charles called on Mr Blanc, born near Besançon, east France, to help with the culinary spectacular. It is believed dishes served on Tuesday had French inspiration or French twists. Dad-of-two Mr Blanc, who has restaurants in central London, Portsmouth, Bath, Leeds and other British places, said he wanted to include the Royal Household's head chef as mark of respect to the monarch. He told Mail Online: "He's a royal chef who's cooked for the King for many years, plus he's a great friend – it's all part of respect. "I could have done everything if I'd insisted, but Mark did a beautiful course – Rhug Estate chicken with British produce, with a beautiful tarragon sauce, a French way. It was a splendid occasion." Of McGrady's gripes, Mr Blanc added: "We all have an opinion – and I've got a different one. I like to bring people together." Despite the criticism from Mr McGrady, King Charles also received a great deal of praise for inviting his friend Mr Blanc to help with the glitzy function at Windsor Castle.
Scotsman
09-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
In Pictures: The State Banquet for Emmanuel Macron at St George's Hall Windsor
French champagne and a special gin-infused cocktail called L'entente will be served at the state banquet in honour of president of France . The King has also turned to his friend and King's Foundation ambassador, French chef Raymond Blanc , to put together the menu in culinary collaboration with the Royal Household, designing the first course and the dessert. Blanc was in the kitchens at Windsor on Tuesday evening making sure the dishes were served to perfection for President Emmanuel Macron , his wife Brigitte and the 160 guests including Charles, the Queen and the Prince and Princess of Wales . The menu, which was written in French as is the custom for state banquets, begins with a selection of tender summer vegetables from the Gardens of Le Manoir with Sage, Raw Tomato and Extra Virgin Olive Oil Dressing. The next course is Supreme of Rhug Estate Chicken with Norfolk Asparagus and Tarragon Cream, followed by Iced Blackcurrant Parfait on a Blackcurrant-soaked Sponge with Elderflower Jelly for dessert. Buckingham Palace described the collaboration as being "in the spirit of the Entente Cordial". In a tradition started by the King, a cocktail has also been created specially for the occasion, this time called L'entente. It combines British gin with lemon curd and French pastis, garnished with dried French cornflowers and English roses. Delicate seasonal flowers including roses, sweet peas and herbs in a colour scheme of pale pinks, purples and white decorated the table, handpicked from the gardens at Buckingham Palace and Windsor Castle, along with flowers and lavender from The Savill Garden in Windsor Great Park , all arranged in silver-gilt centrepieces taken from the Grand Service. The impressive St George's Hall is the largest room in the castle at 55.5 metres long (180ft) and nine metres wide (29.5ft), and the 50 metre (164ft) table stretches its full length. The castle's staff began constructing the mahogany table last Wednesday, and it now set with the elaborate silver gilt Grand Service. Sir Mick Jagger and Sir Elton John topped the star-studded guest list for the French state banquet hosted by the King at Windsor Castle. The Rolling Stones' front man was joined by his fiancee Melanie Hamrick , while Crocodile Rock singer Sir Elton was accompanied by his husband David Furnish for the opulent royal celebration. 1 . Queen Camilla, King Charles III with France's President Emmanuel Macron and wife Brigitte arriving for the State Banquet Aaron Chown / PA Photo Sales 2 . The State Banquet for President of France Around 160 guests at the banquet in St George's Hall, Windsor Castle | Chris Jackson/PA Wire Photo Sales 3 . The Prince and Princess of Wales, followed by the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh The Princess of Wales dazzled in a dark red silk creponne Givenchy evening gown | PA Photo Sales
