King Charles takes to the DJ decks with Idris Elba at Buckingham Palace garden party

King Charles took the DJ stage with Sir Idris Elba at the garden party at Buckingham Palace.

The actor was among the many famous names who attended the event held to celebrate the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust youth charity, which was founded in 1976.

The Foundation’s celebrity ambassadors, including broadcasters Ant and Dec and Holly Willoughby and actors Dame Helen Mirren and Damian Lewis, were on hand alongside Sir Idris, one of the charity’s alumni.

Charles, who greeted approximately 50 young people and graduates supported by the organization for more than an hour, approached Christian St Louis and Sir Idris, who were positioned next to the DJ equipment, holding his umbrella in the pouring rain.

St Louis, 22, from Middleton in Greater Manchester, took a DJ course through the Trust and performed at the party as guests danced in the pouring rain while holding umbrellas.

Asked what he was talking to the King about, Sir Idris said: “We had a great time at the National Youth Music Theater this morning and I was telling him it took me back to the first time I did it and I was laughing about it and he said he was going to the DJ today and off he went.”

“Well, he pressed play and as a DJ, I know that’s the hardest part,” the 53-year-old actor joked.

When asked if Charles enjoyed the electronic and fast-paced music being played, Sir Idris laughed and said: “Well, he didn’t stick around, let’s put it that way.”

Earlier, the King, wearing a gray suit, blue tie and a red Kings Trust badge on his lapel, came to the party on the palace steps and came down after the orchestra played the national anthem.

He was then presented with a yearbook documenting the stories of staff, volunteers and beneficiaries of the Foundation through Ant and December.

Darnell Allman-Smith said he was going through a “bit of a depressive period” when he came last on the charity’s Making in Media course alongside Ant and Dec.

The 22-year-old said: “Growing up my interests have always been film, media and music and so it was almost like a gift from god that there was a place left and at first I said no because I felt I wasn’t ready for it and then they kindly kept the position open to give me time to reconsider.

“The course lasted two weeks and in those two weeks I overcame my depression, social anxiety, started making friends again and life slowly returned to normal.

“And if I’m being completely honest, these two weeks have to be the biggest change, one of the biggest changes in my life, because from that moment on the Foundation not only supported me, but gave me the strength, ambition and inspiration to do better for myself and to pass that courage on to others, and I hope to continue to do this simply as a way of showing my gratitude to the King for what he has done for me.”

Mr Allman-Smith, from Brixton, south London, said he had since worked on a Netflix show and had thanked the King for what the Foundation had done for him during the brief conversation at the garden party.

She added: “My mother also asked me to personally convey her thanks because I care about my mother personally and when I started working with the Foundation she noticed some sort of change in me and her health improved significantly.

“So not only did he help me, but he also helped my mom, which I am extremely grateful for.”

The charity says it has helped more than 1.3 million young people in the UK over the last 50 years as part of its commitment to ending youth unemployment and helping more young people create better futures for themselves.

Thursday’s guests, some wearing heavy coats and holding umbrellas, were smiling and chatting excitedly as they gathered to take photos of the King despite the gloomy weather.

Former England men’s football coach Sir Gareth Southgate and musician and presenter Myleene Klass were also present.

More than 4,000 guests enjoyed treats such as mini scones with blackcurrant jam and clotted cream, chocolate cake and mini bagels with elderflower, salmon and lemon cream cheese.

At a typical summer gathering, attendees consume approximately 27,000 cups of tea, 20,000 sandwiches and 20,000 slices of cake.