King Charles has appointed rock icon Rod Stewart and his wife, Penny Lancaster, as the newest ambassadors for The King’s Foundation. They join other high-profile supporters like actress Sienna Miller and soccer legend David Beckham in advocating for the charity. This announcement coincides with the 35th anniversary of The King’s Foundation, which provides practical education and training programs to strengthen communities and improve lives.
The foundation’s courses, often held at Highgrove Gardens in Gloucestershire, England, focus on preserving traditional heritage skills such as embroidery and woodturning. These programs aim to ensure these crafts continue to thrive for future generations. Sir Rod and Lady Stewart will visit the charity’s headquarters at Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland, this week to further their involvement with the foundation’s initiatives.
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Lady Stewart, a volunteer police constable and advocate for menopause awareness, will specifically focus on learning about the foundation’s perimenopause programs and support services offered at the health and wellbeing center. The couple’s commitment stems from their deep admiration for the foundation’s work, solidified after meeting students and alumni at the organization’s awards ceremony at St. James’s Palace in June 2024. Rod Stewart, who recently turned 80, has a long history of supporting King Charles’ charitable endeavors, including the newly renamed King’s Trust (formerly the Prince’s Trust), which assists disadvantaged youth in accessing business opportunities.
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Both Rod and Penny expressed their enthusiasm for their new roles. Rod stated they are “pleased” to be ambassadors and eager to support the cause, especially during this milestone anniversary year. Penny described it as an “honor,” emphasizing the importance of the foundation’s community-building approach and its focus on utilizing green spaces to create healthier environments.
Kristina Murrin, the foundation’s chief executive, acknowledged the couple’s long-standing friendship with the charity and welcomed their official ambassadorship. She highlighted their shared mission of building sustainable communities and transforming lives globally. Prior to the holiday season, newly appointed ambassador Sienna Miller participated in the charity’s Christmas carol service, reading Sir John Betjeman’s “Christmas” alongside Angelica Ellis, an embroidery graduate from The King’s Foundation and CHANEL Métiers d’art Embroidery Fellowship.
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This fellowship, a partnership with Le19M, is based at Highgrove Gardens and encourages students to draw inspiration from the gardens’ flora and scenery in their designs. Ellis shared how the garden’s vibrant crocuses influenced her work and emphasized the program’s dedication to preserving traditional crafts. She praised the unique learning experience provided by the tutors and highlighted the importance of protecting these skills, drawing parallels to France’s success in maintaining its artisanal traditions.
