King Charles has settled the old age question of whether the monarch handles cash as he slipped a Big Issue seller a £10 note, telling him: "This is for you."
On his 75th birthday today, Charles launched his Coronation Food Project aimed at tackling food waste after appearing on the front cover of the homelessness magazine. During a visit to a food distribution project in Oxfordshire, the monarch met Big Issue seller Kelvin, 61, from London, after being introduced to Lord Bird, co-founder of The Big Issue.
The King reached into his left pocket and retrieved a £10 note before placing it into the vendor's palm in exchange for his copy of the magazine, whose cover price is £4. After being handed a copy of the magazine, adorned with a new portrait of the monarch by esteemed photographer Rankin, the King then thumbed through it.
King Charles hands over a £10 donation to a Big Issue seller (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)Kelvin, who has sold the Big Issue off and on for 25 years during periodic bouts of homelessness, said Charles' mother, the late Queen Elizabeth II would be proud. He said: "It just shows he cares. He is reaching out to the general public. He is a good man. The Royal Family always try to help but he really does. The world is in turmoil and we need to all be together. We are all equal. He is using his position to facilitate change. His mother would be proud of him. She was a benevolent and kind person."
Many have pondered whether the late Queen carried cash with her or questioned what she carried in her handbag on royal engagements. Elizabeth II never usually carried money with her, however, was known to make an exception on Sundays when she would bring £5 or £10 notes to church in order to leave a discreet donation.
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Turning to Charles following the King's exchange with Kevin, Lord Bird remarked on the portrait by Rankin, adding: "He is the best. You landed on your feet there." He told the king: "God bless you, good to see you. I haven't seen you for a quarter of a century."
The King looks at the publication, which features him on the front cover (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)"Has it been as long as that?" asked the king. You haven’t changed a bit!" Lord Birt replied: "Nor have you" before handing him a 'poverty manifesto' as part of his campaign to create a 'Ministry of Poverty'.
The Coronation Food Project was inspired and devised by the King who has long been concerned about waste, particularly when it comes to food and the cost of living crisis. More than 12 million tonnes of food is wasted each year in the UK alone. The project will work with - and crucially raise funds for - existing food waste projects around the country to save and circulate more surplus food and use it for social good.
The King and Queen Camilla tour the South Oxford Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA), part of the Fareshare network, in Didcot (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)It will help scale up nationwide projects and build warehouses, as well as buy fridges, freezers and refrigerated lorries. The project is being led by Baroness Casey and Dame Martina Milburn and co-ordinated by the King Charles III Charitable Fund. Today the King, who insisted he wanted his birthday to be a 'normal working day', visited the South Oxford Food and Education Alliance (SOFEA), part of the Fareshare network, in Didcot, Oxfordshire.
Accompanied by Queen Camilla dressed in a green coat and black cape, he was shown around the SOFEA warehouse and offices by Dame Martina, Baroness Casey and Richard and Ruth Kennell, who founded SOFEA. The King later laughed as he was treated to a rousing rendition of Happy Birthday as he celebrated three-quarters of a century unveiling a new food waste initiative today.
The King was seranaded with a rendition of 'Happy Birthday' (Ian Vogler / Daily Mirror)The bashful monarch remarked "Oh gracious!" as Baroness Louise Casey, who is helping to create his Coronation Food Project, asked whether he minded if guests serenade him. The King looked bashful as everyone joined in - including his wife, Queen Camilla, who also clapped loudly at the end. "We are beyond delighted about it. It is such an honour for us and support for the project just wouldn’t have happened without you. We are incredibly grateful to you," Baroness Casey added.
Public and businesses are being urged to support the project by donating at www.coronationfoodproject.org.
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