Prince Charles and Camilla join Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel at British Asian Trust bash

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Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall were joined by Rishi Sunak and Priti Patel at a British Asian Trust reception on Wednesday night.

Charles, 73, looked dapper in black tie while Camilla, 74, was resplendent in a green velvet ensemble with an eye-catching emerald necklace for the black tie bash at the British Museum.

It marks the couple’s first joint engagement since the Queen announced her desire for Camilla to be given the title Queen Consort when Prince Charles ascends the throne. 

Other guests included Health Secretary Sajid Javid, former Liverpool and Wales footballer Ian Rush, TOWIE’s Jasmine Walia, DJ Naughty Boy and film director Gurinder Chadha. 

Prince Charles founded the British Asian Trust in 2007 to tackle widespread poverty, inequality and injustice in South Asia. 

The Duchess of Cambridge paid tribute to the British Asian Trust with her choice of outfit, opting for a velvet green kurti with an exquisite paisley pattern embroidered on the sleeves and body. 

She wore the piece with a pair of green trousers and added a pair of pointed black boots and a small black clutch bag.

The colour of the ensemble matched her breathtaking emerald necklace, which is part of a set gifted to her by the Saudi Arabian royal family. 

The square emeralds are bordered by diamonds and match a set of earrings and a bracelet.   

To complete the very elegant number, her blonde hair was styled in a neat blow-dry and she was sporting glamourous makeup. 

Some bronzer completed her healthy glow while a trait of eyeliner brought out her blue eyes. 

Other guests sported equally glamourous numbers for tonight’s event. 

Home Secretary Priti Patel looked very stylish in an embroidered gold and purple lehnga, a traditional outfit.  

Meanwhile, Neev Spencer looked stunning in her black gown as guests descended onto the red carpet. 

Charles and Camilla greeted supporters and ambassadors of the British Asian Trust in the museum’s Egyptian Gallery. 

The Prince of Wales, who seemed in great spirits, exchanged a few words with the Home Secretary, while Camilla spoke with the Sunaks upon arriving at the event.  

The duchess thanked ambassadors Neev Spencer and Ritula Shah as they congratulated her after the Queen’s announcement that she would become Queen Consort.

Hitan Mehta, executive director of the trust, said it was ‘amazing’ to be able to host the royal couple at the reception after it was not held last year due to the coronavirus pandemic.

He said: “It is amazing to be able to bring the whole community together with His Royal Highness to celebrate the work that we have done.”

Since first forming, The British Asian Trust has supported programs in education, livelihoods, mental health and anti-trafficking, and has made a real difference to the lives of more than 4.8million people in South Asia. 

Around 5.8million children are believed to be working in forced labour in India. In Jaipur alone, tens of thousands are thought to be working 15-hour days in hazardous workshops, producing goods such as bangles and embroidery.

As part of the Child Labour Free Jaipur Initiative, BAT has been working with business, government and communities to remove child labour from supply chains and encourage child labour-free products in markets.

The Daily Mail revealed on Monday that Her Majesty gave her blessing to crown Camilla as Queen Consort – as opposed to Princess Consort – years ago and that Charles came close to announcing it in 2019.

The Queen chose her Jubilee weekend – the 70th anniversary of her accession to the throne – to make the highly significant announcement and express her desire for her daughter-in-law to be fully acknowledged when Charles succeeds her.

She told the nation: ‘When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes king, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me, and it is my sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.’

Yesterday Camilla attended her first public engagement since the big announcement. She visited Roundhill Primary School in Southdown, Bath on behalf of the St John’s Foundation, a charity which supports disadvantaged children.

The duchess has been its patron since 2009. And the trip ticked all the royal boxes including flag waving school children, tea and cakes, a tree planting, plaque unveiling and even a posy.

As she arrived she was greeted by dozens of excited youngsters waving Union flags and shouting her name. She wore a favourite tartan skirt and jacket trimmed with velvet by Edina Ronay.