Court jester? Prince Charles cracks joke during awards speech

It would appear Prince Charles is vying for the role of court jester rather than heir to the throne as he delivered a self-deprecating speech during the Prince’s Trust Awards.

Never one to shy away from poking fun at himself, the royal delivered a crowd-pleasing speech that not only thanked those in attendance but also had the crowd in stitches. The Prince of Wales regaled the audience with a story about visiting a local department store, in a subtle reference to his position as heir to the throne.

“I remember there were an enormous number of people who were trying to get in, as they were waiting for me to get out,” he said, People magazine reported. Without missing a beat he added, “Story of my life.”

Today The Prince of Wales presented prizes to @PrincesTrust Award winners at St James’s Palace.

The Prince’s Trust Awards recognise young people who have succeeded against the odds, improved their chances in life and had a positive impact on their local community. pic.twitter.com/UStTIrddIB

— The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall (@ClarenceHouse) October 21, 2021

The awards ceremony, which was attended by actor Richard E. Grant and Vogue UK editor-in-chief Edward Enninful, celebrates young people who have overcome significant barriers to transform their lives.

As he presented awards to the night’s winners, the Prince – who founded the charity in 1976 – highlighted the importance of the Trust in regards to current global events.

“The Prince’s Trust’s mission is more relevant now than ever, particularly as the pandemic has made the need to help young people prepare for the world of work even more urgent,” he said. “Every young person deserves a chance to succeed and the young people here today have shown that, with the right support, they can fulfil their potential and go on to achieve tremendous things.”

Its been a busy few weeks for the Prince of Wales, having recently paid a visit to MI6 headquarters, hosted the Investiture ceremony, and attended the opening of Welsh Parliament alongside the Queen and his wife Camilla.

 

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Before finishing his speech, he delivered one more final quip after commenting on the Trust’s expansion “in 18 countries”: “And before I drop dead, I want to make sure we can get even further!”