King Charles expressed being "really proud" of a young woman who overcame difficulties to secure employment, as he convened with young professionals at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. Accompanied by Sir Gareth Southgate, the monarch engaged with 20 individuals supported into work by The King's Trust.
Personal Triumph
Among those he spoke with was Trishna Lamichhane, 28, who conveyed her profound gratitude to Charles after gaining work experience through the charity's retail programme. Reflecting on her relocation from Nepal to Belfast, she stated: "I had my experience, however I was finding it really difficult to get interviewed, which is why I started losing my confidence. I had moved from a different country, and I was finding it very difficult to navigate the workplace culture here. The King's Trust helped me, and I am now in a position where I'm proud of myself because I'm actually doing something I really love." Ms Lamichhane noted that Charles was "really happy to hear" she now assists other young people in launching careers in her HR role at Marks & Spencer, affirming his pride in her achievements.
National Initiative Launch
During the Youth Opportunity Summit, Sir Gareth Southgate, a charity ambassador, unveiled a new national initiative. Starting in 2027, this programme will support 18 to 30-year-olds into employment through mentoring schemes, online resources, and work experience opportunities. The former England football manager remarked: "What I see is so much talent that isn't being fulfilled that maybe just needs support at the right moment to gain belief in what they're doing. The beauty of sport is that you always have a coach, somebody to guide you in those moments where you lose belief… I definitely had that with my youth coaches at Crystal Palace, without whom I wouldn't have made the steps through to being a player."
Mentoring and Guidance
Prior to Charles's arrival, young attendees received one-to-one advice from leaders in business, sport, civil society, and media, including Sir Gareth. He added: "I've heard that story so many times this morning from youngsters in real diverse, different career paths. It was all about someone who believed in them, somebody that could guide them, somebody they could just pick up the phone and check in with. It doesn't have to be super-complicated, but it's really, really powerful."
Royal Engagement
Earlier, Charles warmly greeted Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy and Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy in the Marble Hall, sharing a light-hearted moment. The Cabinet ministers were joined by notable figures such as actor Benedict Cumberbatch, comedian Tom Davis, and broadcaster Sonali Shah, all participating in mentoring sessions. Charles posed for a group photo with attendees, including mentees, mentors, youth group leaders, and business executives, on the steps of the Grand Hall. This marks his third Youth Opportunity Summit, following previous events at St James's Palace in 2024 and 2025, where he addressed youth violence and the creative industries' inspirational power.
The King's Trust reports having assisted over 1.3 million young people across the UK in the past five decades, committed to ending youth unemployment and fostering better futures.
