Keir Starmer meets King Charles for first time since Epstein files released
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and his wife Lady Victoria Starmer joined the King and Queen in honoring carers across the UK at a special reception at Windsor Castle on Wednesday night.
Alongside the Starmers, the royal couple met with both paid and unpaid carers at the historic Berkshire residence, as well as representatives from various charities.
In a printed message to his guests, King Charles praised the millions of people across the country who have dedicated themselves to caring for their loved ones.
It also acknowledged that an estimated 1.6 million people are employed in the adult social care sector.
“My wife and I are delighted to welcome you here this evening as we celebrate and thank the extraordinary individuals who dedicate their lives to the care of others,” the King’s message said.
“There are around five million people in the UK today providing unpaid care for a loved one,” he added.
“This is one in 10 adults who shoulder the sacred and selfless responsibility of caring for another human being, in addition to the demands of their own lives.
“They do it not for recognition or reward, but because their hearts compel them to.
“Alongside these incredibly selfless individuals, there are also an estimated 1.6 million professionals working in social care – nurses, care workers, support staff and countless others who have chosen to make compassion their profession.
“Together, these two great pillars of care, and the charities and organizations that support them, form the foundation on which so many families and communities depend.”
Charles said he had been “privileged” to have met carers and people involved in the care sector throughout his life, and said he had been “impressed time and time again by the resilience of those who give so much of themselves while asking so little in return”.
The King’s message also touched on the challenges carers face, including isolation, exhaustion and financial hardship.
“We owe them not only our thanks but also our practical support,” he wrote.
“This is especially true for children and young people who take on responsibilities that will test the strongest among us,” the King added.
“There are hundreds of thousands of them across this country, some as young as five, helping to care for their parents, siblings or grandparents.
“They prepare meals, administer medication, provide emotional support, and manage the household—all while trying to cope with the ordinary challenges of growing up.
“While every caregiver deserves our respect, these young people deserve our deepest admiration.
“It is our responsibility to ensure that their sacrifices do not cost them their childhood, their education, or their dreams.”
One in five children in the UK may be a young carer, according to an estimate by children’s charity Barnardo’s.
The king also sent a message to those receiving care across the country.
Charles’s message said, “As for those receiving care, I especially want to say this: you are not a burden and you never will be.”
“The care you need and receive is not a choice you can make or imposed on others; it is actually an expression of their commitment.”
According to the 2021 Census, there are 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK; 29 percent of them provide more than 50 hours of care each week, and women make up 59% of the unpaid caregiver population.
Wednesday’s reception marked the first time Sir Keir and the King have been seen together since US authorities recently dumped millions of documents relating to pedophilia financier Jeffrey Epstein.
As both Charles and Sir Keir deal with the fallout from the scandal, the King expressed his “deep concern” on Monday over allegations that his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor shared secret reports about his role as the UK’s trade envoy with sex offender Epstein.
Thames Valley Police previously confirmed it was assessing the allegations.
The crisis also led to the departure of two people from Downing Street; The Scottish Labor leader called on Sir Keir to resign, reigniting the scandal over Lord Peter Mandelson’s appointment as the UK’s ambassador to the US despite his relationship with Epstein.
