Prince Charles says he’s ‘so impressed’ by Britain’s 100 most influential black people who ‘find new talent in all corners of the country’ during reception at Clarence House
- Prince Charles, 73, met supporters of the Powerlist at Clarence House in London
- Powerlist celebrates 100 influential people of African and Caribbean heritage
- Reception comes after Prince of Wales speech in Southend-on-Sea earlier today
The Prince of Wales hosted a reception at Clarence House for supporters of the Powerlist on Tuesday evening.
Charles, 73, looked polished in a navy suit with a white shirt and carefully coordinated tie as he met with industry-leading professionals as well as supporters of the Powerlist.
The network, which is in its 16th year, honours 100 influential people who are shaping black Britain.
During a speech at the event, he said: ‘I have been so impressed to hear what all of you do and the success you have been having and the way many of you go about trying to find new talent in all sorts of dark corners around the country and everywhere else.’
The reception came just hours after Prince Charles gave a speech warning that the values of democracy are ‘under attack’, while granting Southend-on-Sea city status following a years-long campaign by the late MP Sir David Amess.
Prince Charles, 73, (pictured) hosted a reception at Clarence House for supporters of the Powerlist on Tuesday evening
Prince of Wales appeared in good spirits as he spoke with respected attendees including Baroness Valerie Amos (pictured left)
Charles (pictured centre) looked polished in a navy suit with a white shirt and carefully coordinated tie, alongside his stylish guests
Appearing to be good spirits, Charles spoke in-depth with actor David Harewood and Composer Shirley Thompson, before taking the opportunity to also talk with Baroness Valerie Amos and Michael Eboda.
The royal posed for a group photo with attendees, who all donned sleek formal attire for the reception.
The Powerlist celebrates 100 of the UK’s most influential people of African, African Caribbean and African-American heritage, who act as a role model for young people.
Now in its 16th year, the network honours people across a wide range of industries including business, science, technology and the arts.
Prince Charles seemed passionate about the network, which honours 100 of the UK’s most influential people of African, Afro-Caribbean and African-American heritage. Pictured: Prince of Wales speaking to Baroness Valerie Amos and Michael Eboda
Charles (pictured) took to the bottom of the stairs in Clarence House to give a speech admitting that he’s impressed by the success of the attendees
Charles said it has been ‘enormously rewarding’ to meet attendees who’ve been helped by his charity, the Prince’s Trust. Pictured: Charles with actor David Harewood and Composer Shirley Thompson
Candidates are selected based on how influential they are in their immediate sphere of expertise as well as how far that influence reaches beyond. A panel deliberates over nominees before they are finally added to the subjective list.
Current members in the top ten include; footballer Marcus Rashford, actor Daniel Kaluuya, entrepreneur Steven Bartlett as well as Jacky Wright of Microsoft US.
The judging panel is made up of academic experts as well as industry leaders in banking, business and politics.
The Powerlist Black Excellence Awards was also launched in 2007 ‘to showcase black role models to young people’, according to its organisers.
It is distributed for free to schools around the UK.
Prince Charles hosted tonight’s event at his residence to honour those listed in the 2022 Powerlist.
He appeared passionate about the initiative as he gave a speech at the bottom of the stairs in Clarence House.
Prince Charles joked that many people don’t let on that they’ve been helped by his trust until they’ve become ‘unbelievable successful’
He added that is has been ‘enormously rewarding’ to meet attendees who had been helped by his charity, the Prince’s Trust.
‘I think some of you have been helped by my Prince’s Trust at some point in the last 45 years, so meeting one or two of you has been enormously rewarding for me.’
Charles jokingly added that those helped by the trust do not often admit it, until they are ‘unbelievably successful’.
He said: ‘I can’t tell you how proud it makes me to find so many people who very often don’t always let on that they were helped by the trust, until finally when they become unbelievably successful.’
Prince Charles took the opportunity to meet the talented attendees individually, including Kwame Kwai Armah (pictured), who is Artistic Director of The Young Vic
Among the attendees were Homeland star David Harewood, Young Vic artistic director Kwami Kwei-Armah, and former UN under-secretary Baroness Amos.
Harewood gave insight into his conversation with the royal, saying: ‘We talked about my work, acting work, and also talked about acting.
‘I have been out of the county for the past 10 years, he asked me what sort of work I have been doing.
‘I explained I have been playing everyone from members of the CIA to high ranking members of the Republican Party.’
He added that it was a ‘real pleasure’ to be surrounded by so many talented people.
‘It’s a real pleasure and a real honour to be surrounded, not just by the prince, but by all these fabulously talented people on the black power list’, he said.
Prince Charles’s reception at Clarence House came just hours after he became the first working royal to condemn Putin’s actions
Baroness Amos (pictured left) spoke to Charles about her recently becoming a lady companion of the order of the garter
This sentiment was echoed by Baroness Amos who said it was ‘always a pleasure’ to come to Clarence House and meet the prince.
‘Charles has been extraordinary in really working to bring communities together’, she said.
She said she spoke to Charles about her recently becoming a lady companion of the order of the garter.
Earlier today Charles became the first working royal to condemn Putin’s actions, which have seen hundreds of civilians killed – and thousands of soldiers slain.
He explained that he ‘stands in solidarity’ with the citizens of Ukraine as he lauded Sir David for his dedication to the ‘values which underpin the society we share’.
Baroness Amos said her heart ‘went out’ to the people of Ukraine.
She added: ‘My heart goes out when you see those people fleeing.
‘The impact of the bombings on innocent civilians – it’s just so appalling – and for absolutely no reason except the ego of President Putin.’
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