NEW YORK — New York City’s annual spring gala season, a calendar of glitzy black-tie fundraisers that regularly draws A-list artists, fashion elite and high-profile public figures, kicked off its most anticipated event of 2024 Wednesday night: The King’s Trust Global Gala, held this year at Christie’s iconic Manhattan auction house. While the guest list already featured household names from across entertainment, fashion and business — including music legend Lionel Richie and Vogue doyenne Anna Wintour — the evening’s biggest draw was a surprise short appearance from none other than King Charles III, founder of the eponymous nonprofit.
The monarch’s 3.5-minute keynote speech marked his first-ever appearance at the five-year-old global gala, drawing palpable excitement from the room. Even high-society attendees gathered along velvet rope barriers, craning to catch a glimpse of the British king during his first visit to the United States since his 2023 coronation. The four-day U.S. trip was already scheduled to mark the 250th anniversary of American independence and repair strains in the bilateral relationship, but the gala added a high-profile philanthropic centerpiece to his itinerary.
Anticipation for Charles’ appearance rippled across the red carpet before the event. British beauty entrepreneur Charlotte Tilbury told lifestyle icon Martha Stewart — who arrived in a shimmering sapphire gown — to relay to the King that she had chosen the “royal blue” shade specifically to honor his visit. Natasha Poonawalla, executive director of the Serum Institute of India, the world’s largest vaccine manufacturer, summed up the mood of the room, noting “everyone’s been waiting for him.” Poonawalla added that Charles’ in-person appearance would significantly bolster the foundation’s global profile and mission.
Those predictions held true: Organizers announced Wednesday night that the gala had raised more than $3 million, a new fundraising record for the event. The historic haul comes as The King’s Trust works to build a permanent endowment to support its programs in the United Kingdom and expand its reach across more than 20 other countries. Queen Camilla also joined Charles for the event, with organizers noting her presence further boosted donor interest.
Founded 50 years ago by Charles, The King’s Trust delivers education and job training programs that have supported more than 1.5 million young people worldwide to secure stable employment. In his brief remarks before the gala dinner, Charles reflected on the organization’s five-decade impact, noting that many program graduates go on to pay the support forward to other disadvantaged young people facing similar barriers. He added a lighthearted touch to his remarks, joking that “Only now do quite a lot of them actually admit they got their start (with the trust).” Charles also exchanged playful banter with Lionel Richie after the singer announced he would not perform at the more intimate 2024 event, quipping that the Rock & Roll Hall of Famer “must gargle with port” to save his voice.
Edward Enninful, former British Vogue editor-in-chief and gala co-chair, has witnessed the trust’s impact firsthand growing up in West London. He shared that his own cousins and brothers were able to build stable, successful lives despite being dismissed by mainstream society as “not worthy” of opportunity. Enninful called Charles’ New York appearance the nonprofit’s “glory moment.”
“He’s set the example that philanthropy matters,” Enninful told the Associated Press. “No matter how well you are doing, you’re not doing enough unless you’re passing it on to a newer generation.”
The 2024 gala was smaller and more intimate than previous installments, hosting just 160 guests with no scheduled musical performances. Other notable attendees included supermodels Karlie Kloss and Iman, *White Lotus* actors Leo Woodall and Meghann Fahy, and legendary fashion designers Donatella Versace and Stella McCartney.
Martha Stewart, who built a billion-dollar media empire focused on lifestyle, cooking and homemaking, shared her own personal connection to the trust’s mission. Stewart recalled that scholarships paid for her higher education, and she credited early opportunities with her long-term success. “But I know today there’s a big challenge in getting a good job, a big challenge in getting a good education,” she said. “And we’re here to help those people.”
This Associated Press philanthropy coverage is produced in partnership with The Conversation US, with support from Lilly Endowment Inc. The AP retains full editorial control over all content.