In a groundbreaking royal event, King Charles III rolled out the red carpet for showbiz royalty at Windsor Castle, hosting the premiere of his new environmental documentary. The monarch and Queen Camilla welcomed a glittering array of stars from stage and screen to the historic residence, marking the first time such a cinematic event has been held within a royal palace.
A Star-Studded Gathering at Windsor
The black-tie occasion saw 222 distinguished guests gather in the Waterloo Chamber for the special screening. Among the notable attendees were Dame Judi Dench, Stanley Tucci, Benedict Cumberbatch, Kenneth Branagh, and Sir Rod Stewart with his wife Lady Penny Lancaster. Television personalities including Fearne Cotton and gardening expert Alan Titchmarsh mingled with astronaut Tim Peake and chef Raymond Blanc, creating a unique convergence of cultural and environmental influencers.
The Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester represented the royal family alongside the King and Queen. Many guests displayed their support for the monarch's environmental causes through symbolic fashion choices. Queen Camilla wore a green velvet Anna Valentine dress adorned with a hand-crafted brooch made by embroidery graduates from The King's Foundation, the monarch's nature and sustainability charity. Similar brooches were worn by the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Duchess of Gloucester, while Sir Rod Stewart sported distinctive bee cufflinks.
The Documentary's Environmental Mission
Finding Harmony: A King's Vision represents a deeply personal project for the monarch, charting his decades-long commitment to environmental campaigning. The 90-minute film, narrated by actress Kate Winslet, was filmed across four continents over seven months and incorporates 75 years of archive footage. Winslet praised the King's "great vision and foresight," noting that the documentary had been "a lifetime in the making."
The film explores Charles's philosophy of Harmony, which encourages humanity to see itself as part of nature rather than separate from it. It documents how The King's Foundation, headquartered at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, has sparked a global movement highlighting sustainable projects from Afghanistan to Guyana. The documentary includes intimate moments showing the King in his garden at Highgrove, collecting eggs from his "Cluckingham Palace" chicken coop, and features archival footage of Charles fishing with a young Prince Harry and bird watching with Prince William.
A New Approach to Royal Storytelling
Royal aides have described the production as "not a conventional royal documentary," emphasizing its personal nature and environmental focus. A spokesman for the King noted: "There are no golden carriages here; no glittering crowns or crimson robes. Instead, this is a deeply personal exploration of ideas that have shaped His Majesty's life and work."
In the documentary, the King expresses concern that environmental progress is "rapidly going backwards" with humanity "actually destroying our means to survival." However, he maintains hope that "by the time I shuffle off this mortal coil" there might be greater awareness of "the need to bring things back together again."
Streaming Platform Debut
The film represents the King's first documentary collaboration with a streaming platform and will be available globally on Amazon Prime Video from February 6th. Produced in collaboration with The King's Foundation for Amazon MGM Studios, it will reach audiences in more than 240 countries and territories worldwide. This move follows other royal streaming projects, including Prince Harry's Netflix series and Amazon's dramatized retelling of Prince Andrew's Newsnight interview.
The Windsor premiere represents a significant moment in the monarch's ongoing environmental advocacy, blending royal tradition with contemporary media to amplify his sustainability message to a global audience.
