King Charles hailed by ‘friend’ Lionel Richie over ‘brilliant’ move | Royal | News
On Wednesday, Mr Richie spoke at an event in New York where celebrity supporters of the King’s Trust joined its founder and the Queen to celebrate the charity’s work and showcase the UK’s cultural influence. He described the monarch as a wise friend who “gives advice on what we should do.”
Richie, the first global ambassador and chair of the King’s Trust’s Global Ambassador Group, said of Charles’ speech on Capitol Hill on Tuesday: “I thought it was very clever and how he threaded the needle, very clever but brought us back to humanity in a way only he could.
“A friend who gives advice on what we should do, a wise friend.”
Charles was praised for his speech, which outlined issues, values and priorities important to the UK and many of its allies, from support for Ukraine to the threat to the environment and the importance of the rule of law.
The New York Times said: “Beneath King Charles’ jokes and manners and some of his subtle rebuttals of Trump, King Charles III gently pushed back on President Trump’s attacks on the UK and NATO and spoke of the importance of checks and balances.”
During the reception at Christie’s auction house, Charles began by making the audience laugh: “I hesitate to make another speech because I might be bored enough now.”
The monarch joked that “when we look into the future, I won’t be able to see the long-distance future” and called on those in the room to “be the champions of the next generation.”
Charles and Camilla will conclude their four-day state visit – the King’s first to the US as monarch – today by celebrating the 250th anniversary of US independence and visiting Virginia.
