King Charles III and Queen Camilla regaled a flock of American and European celebrities at a swanky Christie’s reception on Wednesday evening, capping off their whirlwind one-day tour in New York City.
A laundry list of famous faces — from former Vogue editor-in-chief Anna Wintour and supermodel Karlie Kloss to Grammy-winning singer Lionel Richie — attended the King’s Trust reception at the famed British auction house in Rockefeller Center.
Charles founded the King’s Trust, a charity geared toward empowering young people across academics and the workforce, in 1976.
Christie’s CEO Bonnie Brennan greeted King Charles III and Queen Camilla. REUTERSThe “Greater Together Reception” was intended to bolster “the UK’s cultural impact on New York, through the arts, sports and community initiatives,” according to the British Embassy in Washington.
Actress Nina Dobrev and fashion designer Stella McCartney, daughter of Sir Paul McCartney of the Beatles, were also spotted in attendance.
Charles and the British ambassador to the US, Sir Christian Turner, viewed the “Greater Together Soft Power Display,” a collection of digital, physical and holographic artwork highlighting “the UK-US relationship,” according to the embassy.
After the approximately hourlong reception, the king and queen were spotted being driven down 49th Street and then uptown, with Camilla sticking her hand out the window to wave to a group of fans.
Edward Enninful, King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Charlotte Tilbury and Lionel Richie attend the Greater Together Reception. Samir Hussein/WireImage
Lionel Richie and Edward Enniful were in attendance. Samir Hussein/WireImage
King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose with young people from Chicago and New York who have taken part in the King’s Trust Global Enterprise Challenges. Samir Hussein/WireImage
Businesswoman Natasha Poonawalla at the King’s Trust annual gala. WireImage“My wife told me to keep an eye out for King Charles and Camilla. I hung around for two hours waiting for Prince Charles — my error. I’m 62 and he has always been the prince to me,” said Ed Gardella, a retired fire insurance inspector from Bangor, Maine.
Mike Dominguez, 61, who was visiting from Los Angeles with his 10-year-old son Beckham, also hoped to catch a glimpse of the royals, with the boy saying: “I want to be part of something special.”
He is the King of comedy!
King Charles III showed off his humorous side during his first state visit to the US as the monarch, delighting American audiences with his wry British wit, including:
- “Now, I know you have big plans for the Moon, Mr President, but I’ve actually checked the papers and I rather suspect it is already part of the Commonwealth, I’m afraid.”
- “Indeed, you recently commented, Mr. President, that if it were not for the United States, European countries would be speaking German. Dare I say that, if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French!”
- “On this occasion, I cannot help noticing the readjustments to the East Wing, Mr. President, following your visit to Windsor Castle last year. And I’m sorry to say that we British, of course, made our own small attempt at real estate redevelopment of the White House in 1814,” referring to the British burning down the building.
- “We call this game ‘Football, Mr. President. And I can only say as the Head of State of five competing countries, I will be watching the matches closely and with great enthusiasm. After all, we always like favourable odds.”
But one man, who only gave his name as Mikey, wasn’t as starstruck, fuming about the traffic disruption.
“I don’t care if King Charles, LeBron James, Muhammad Ali or Abraham Lincoln was here. I want to cross the street in my city where I pay taxes,” he railed.
The rare royal visit also included a solemn visit to the 9/11 Memorial & Museum, where Charles and Camilla met with family members who lost loved ones in the 2001 terror attacks.
Stella McCartney and Karlie Kloss hit the red carpet at the 5th Annual The King’s Trust Global Gala. Erik Pendzich/Shutterstock
Charles and his ambassador will each make closing remarks at the reception. POOL/AFP via Getty ImagesCamilla also toured the New York Public Library alongside “Sex and the City” star Sarah Jessica Parker, the library’s president, Dr. Anthony Marx, and Wintour.
Charles hasn’t visited New York City since 2007. REUTERSCharles, meanwhile, dropped by Harlem Grown, a nonprofit that promotes sustainable living and provides educational programs for local youth.
The king and UK Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper also met with a gaggle of business leaders from both sides of the pond at Rockefeller Center.
Lionel Richie speaks with King Charles III during a cultural reception on April 29, 2026, in New York. AP
Juan David Borrero, Jasmine Tookes, Martha Stewart, Charlotte Tilbury, Nina Dobrev, Meghann Fahy, and Leo Woodall attend The King’s Trust 5th Annual Gala at Christie’s on April 29, 2026 in New York City. Getty ImagesThe royal visit marked Charles’ first time in the Big Apple since 2007. During his last hop across the pond, Charles and Camilla visited the Promise Academy charter school in Harlem, where the now-king played basketball with the students.







