Latest news with #TheKing'sFoundation
South Wales Argus
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- South Wales Argus
Kate Humble to open Craft Festival Wales at Cardigan Castle
Craft Festival Wales will take place at Cardigan Castle from September 5–7. Ms Humble opens the event at 10am on September 5. Later the same day, Ms Humble will participate in the 'The Capital of Craft LIVE' segment of the festival, offering talks, masterclasses, and panel discussions with notable makers and specialists. 'The Capital of Craft LIVE' brings the well-known podcast to life and will be held in the tower room at Cardigan Castle for the duration of the festival. During her talk, which will focus on the inspiration behind her new book, 'Homemade Recipes from the Countryside,' Ms Humble will engage in a conversation with Craft Festival co-founder Sarah James. The book features compelling narratives from creators who play a pivotal role in bringing food to our tables, including basket weavers, black smiths, and potters. Copies of the book will be available for signing post-discussion. Entrance to 'The Capital of Craft LIVE' is complimentary, but pre-booking with an entry ticket to Craft Festival Wales is necessary, which can be done online in advance. Talks will be available in both English and Welsh, with translation provided. British Sign Language (BSL) interpretation will also be available. The full schedule for 'The Capital of Craft LIVE' can be found at The Friday schedule of 'The Capital of Craft LIVE' also includes a masterclass by highly skilled brush-maker Rosa Harradine from Carmarthen, who was recently inducted into The King's Foundation's '35 under 35' network. Additionally, curator Ann Whittal from the National Wool Museum in Drefach Felindre will participate in discussions with ceramicist Lowri Davies, furniture maker Dylan Glyn, and globally renowned ceramic artist Catrin Howell. Craft Festival Wales is an annual celebration of exceptional craft and craftsmanship and has become a regular event at Cardigan, with the backing of various organisations and local businesses. Advance online tickets for Craft Festival Wales are available at £8 per adult, while kids can enter for free when accompanied by an adult ticket-holder. A three-day weekend ticket is available for £15. More details about exhibitors, workshops, and other features can be found on the Craft Festival Wales website.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Health
- Daily Record
Pioneering device to improve cattle wellbeing tested in Ayrshire
Farmers at Dumfries House's farming and rural skills training centre have been testing a device which could revolutionise cattle dentistry. A pioneering device which could revolutionise farming practices and transform the health and wellbeing of cattle has been tested by farmers in Ayrshire. Farmers at the farming and rural skills training centre at Dumfries House trialled the device - which aims to aid dental treatment for cows - last week. Early trials have been successful and it is hoped that the device could be used by The King's Foundation across their sites and into the wider agricultural community. Developed by Dr Jillian Gordon, researcher and lecturer at Scotland's Rural College (SRUC), the device is designed to safely hold a cow's mouth in the correct position to allow for examination and treatment of the teeth. Poor dental health can lead to cattle being unable to chew properly, causing infection and ill health, but the issue has not been regularly monitored or checked until now because of a lack of specialised tools. Beef cattle at The MacRobert Centre for Farming and Rural Skills on the Dumfries House estate, headquarters of The King's Foundation, took part in the trail which took place under the supervision of a vet. Previous trials on dairy cows, which are more used to being handled than beef cattle, were also successful. Dr Gordon first observed the dental problems in cattle while still an agriculture student and came up with the idea for her device as a way to tackle the problem. She developed a prototype using a £500 grant from The King's Trust under the Test My Business Idea scheme and has now established a company to grow the project - Ovation Agriculture. Speaking after the trial, Dr Gordon said: 'It was the first time anything like this has been tried. Similar devices exist for horses but, unlike horses, cows don't have upper teeth. 'They have a bony dental pad which is made of cartilage and gum tissue so the traditional horse mechanisms are very ineffective. Our device is designed to fit to a cow's anatomy. 'We're working with our first prototype which we have tried on dairy cows but dairy cows are used to being handled much more than beef cows. Beef cows can be five or six months between handling and are bigger and stronger. 'Each animal is becoming more and more valuable which makes this the ideal time to think about how we can prolong their lives which is more beneficial for the environment as well.' 'We are so grateful to The King's Foundation for allowing us to try this and work with them. It's a wonderful organisation.' Alex Reynolds, farming and rural skills education manager for The King's Foundation, said: 'It's why we're here, to promote best practice in farming and rural skills, and this device could be another of the tools in the farmer's toolkit to do that. 'It's a simple concept but it's brilliant – a real breakthrough in innovation.'
Newsweek
21-07-2025
- Newsweek
King Charles' Charity Hit by New Scandal Over Gardeners
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. King Charles III's foundation is under fire over the treatment of gardeners at his country estate, with allegations he said of one employee: "Do not put that man in front of me again." Highgrove has always been a cherished home for the king in the Gloucestershire countryside, so much so that it was his sanctuary during his one day of rest after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022. However, an article in The Sunday Times has accused the king of mistreating gardeners employed by his charity, The King's Foundation, which manages the estate's gardens. Why It Matters The story, which does not name its sources, suggests that 11 of the 12 gardeners employed in 2022 have since moved on, citing a combination of minimum wage and the high demands of the king. The foundation, though, defended its record, stating: "Our staff turnover is well below the national average, as is the number of formal grievances raised." It is not the first time the Foundation has been in the news. The Sunday Times spearheaded the cash for honors scandal, in which a former chief executive resigned following allegations he offered to help a Saudi tycoon secure a knighthood in exchange for charity donations. King Charles at Highgrove House, in Tetbury, England, on May 13, 2019. King Charles at Highgrove House, in Tetbury, England, on May 13, Clarence House What The Sunday Times Article Says Charles is accused by The Sunday Times of leaving notes for staff about the performance of the gardens, ranging from the effusively positive to the searingly negative. Reportedly, one piece of feedback suggested the failure of the gardeners to cultivate his delphiniums had spoiled one of his favorite moments of the summer. At another point, a deputy head gardener failed his probation after being unable to answer Charles' questions about a particular flower. According to The Sunday Times, Charles told a member of staff: "Don't put that man in front of me again." The story, however, does not specify what the employee's experience was or what questions he had failed to answer, making it more difficult to assess whether the decision was fair or not. What The King's Foundation Says A spokesperson for The King's Foundation said in a statement to Newsweek: "At The King's Foundation, we take staff welfare extremely seriously and strive to be an exemplary employer. "We are proud to regularly report very high satisfaction rates in our annual staff survey. Our staff turnover is well below the national average, as is the number of formal grievances raised. "For the gardening team at Highgrove specifically, we regularly review guidance from the Professional Gardeners Guild for pay benchmarking. Meanwhile, one grievance was raised among 500 staff members between 2024 and 2025, and staff pay rises since 2022 have cumulatively added up to between 15 and 19 percent. Highgrove is owned by the Duchy of Cornwall, a property portfolio that exists to fund the Prince of Wales. At the time it was acquired, that was Prince Charles. However, the duchy passed on to Prince William when Charles became king on the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022. However, knowing succession would come at some stage, the King's Foundation took on management of Highgrove Gardens in 2021. "Highgrove has also seen many positive developments since The King's Foundation became the charitable custodian of the gardens," the foundation's statement said. "Since 2022, the operating profit has more than doubled, a new education facility teaching traditional heritage skills to hundreds of students has been established, and visitor numbers continue to reach over 40,000 annually." What a King Charles Biographer Says Newsweek asked Robert Jobson, author of Charles at 70, whether he thought the allegation would damage the king. "I don't think so," he said. "The public know that he and the royals live extraordinary lives. It makes him love indulged and entitled, but that said, it comes with the territory." King Charles and the Cash for Honors Scandal Michael Fawcett, former chief executive of the foundation, resigned after allegations in The Sunday Times and Mail on Sunday suggesting he offered to help a Saudi billionaire secure a knighthood and British citizenship in exchange for charity donations. A letter from Fawcett to the tycoon's aide, dated August 17, 2017, was printed in the Mail and read: "In light of the ongoing and most recent generosity of His Excellency, Sheikh Marei Mubarak Mahfouz bin Mahfouz I am happy to confirm to you, in confidence, that we are willing and happy to support and contribute to the application for Citizenship. "I can further confirm that we are willing to make [an] application to increase His Excellency's honor from Honorary CBE to that of KBE in accordance with Her Majesty's Honors Committee. "Both of these applications will be made in response to the most recent and anticipated support of the Trust and in connection with his ongoing commitment generally within the United Kingdom. I hope this confirmation is sufficient in allowing us to go forward." An internal investigation by the charity in 2021 found that: "With respect to the allegation of securing honors for a donor in exchange for donations, there is evidence that communication and coordination took place between the CEO at the time and so-called 'fixers' regarding honorary nominations for a donor between 2014-18. "There is no evidence that trustees at the time were aware of these communications." The matter was referred to the Metropolitan Police in 2021, but in 2023, officers announced they would take no further action following advice from Britain's Crown Prosecution Service. Jack Royston is chief royal correspondent for Newsweek, based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page. Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@ We'd love to hear from you.
Daily Record
08-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Record
Budding Ayrshire costume creators could work with Amazon on new course
The King's Foundation have launched a new costume craft programme for budding costume designers with support from Amazon MGM Studios. Ayrshire 's fashionistas could soon be working on the latest Amazon Prime hit through a new course run by the King's Foundation at Dumfries House. Budding costume creators will be able to learn the skills required to excel in the garment-making industry for both TV and film on the new costume craft programme. Working with Amazon MGM Studios and Ascend, students on the course will have the opportunity to create costumes to feature in Amazon MGM Studios and Prime Video productions. The King's Foundation has called the course an "exciting new addition" to the existing textiles education courses which cover luxury garment production, embroidery, millinery, knitting and sewing. It is hoped the hands-on industry experience will prepare students for a future career while reducing waste within the industry by learning ways of reusing and repurposing clothing used on set. The intensive postgraduate-level programme will provide a sustainable and interdisciplinary approach to costume-making and will be based at Dumfries House with regular set visits to Amazon MGM Studios productions included as part of the course. Tuition and time spent on industry placements will have a focus on craftsmanship and technical skills including leathercraft, hand stitching, natural dyeing and sewing production. The programme offers eight places, is fully-funded and includes tuition, materials and contributions towards travel required for the programme. Successful students will also each receive a bursary of £1,500 per month towards the cost of living. Sienna Miller, actor and ambassador for The King's Foundation, said: 'The craft of costumery is so integral to the TV and film industry. It's about so much more than just clothes – it's about creating wearable pieces of art that help tell stories and bring characters to life. 'Having seen the incredible work being done by The King's Foundation to support emerging fashion and textile talent here in the UK, I can't wait to meet the students taking part in this new costume craft programme and see them go on to carve out successful careers in the industry. 'This is a real milestone in protecting the future of costume design and production.' Simon Sadinsky, executive director of The King's Foundation, said: 'This exciting new course will help to provide a new pipeline of talented costume designers and makers to support the growing TV and film industry in the UK. 'At The King's Foundation, we pride ourselves on teaching crucial making skills that will keep traditional heritage crafts alive for future generations, and ensure we have a growing community of master craftspeople in the United Kingdom. 'This is an incredible opportunity for eight talented graduates to work on high-profile and fast-paced productions with Amazon MGM Studios to hone their skills and give them the best chance of success in a fast-growing industry. "Amazon MGM Studios is renowned for expert costume making, from fantasy epics like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, to Fallout, The Marvellous Mrs Maisel and Daisy Jones & the Six. 'We look forward to this training partnership, as we explore the future of costuming together."
Perth Now
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
Kate Winslet appointed King's Foundation ambassador
Kate Winslet has become an ambassador for The King's Foundation. The Mare of Easttown actress is "so thrilled" to be working with King Charles' charity - which was known as The Prince's Foundation before he ascended the throne in 2022 - and noted she and the 76-year-old monarch share a passion for the environment. She said in a video to mark the news: "One of my passions is exploring ways that we can protect and promote the natural world, something I have in common with His Majesty. "I am so thrilled to become an ambassador for The King's Foundation, particularly as the charity celebrates its 35th anniversary this year, The King's Foundation does such fantastic work to prioritise and protect nature and our wonderful planet. "In particular championing field to fork farming, as well as getting young people outdoors and learning about our beautiful countryside and how we can all play a part in protecting its future, all things that are deeply important to me and to so many of us." Kate joins the likes of joins fellow ambassadors Alan Titchmarsh, presenter Jay Blades, TV property expert Sarah Beeny and rugby player Maro Itoje in her new role, and she is looking forward to working with The King's Foundation's other ambassadors. She said: "It's been fascinating learning about what the foundation does over these past few months, and I am really looking forward to collaborating with the other ambassadors so we can discuss ways in which we can collectively make a positive difference." The charity are thrilled to have the Oscar-winning star on board. Kristina Murrin, chief executive, said: 'It has been fantastic to get to know Kate and we are thrilled she was able to spend time with our students, alumni and Royal Founding President at The King's Foundation Awards earlier this month. 'We look forward to working with Kate to promote our work over many years to come.' The King's Foundation works to support people and the planet with a sustainable approach, including offering educational courses in traditional skills and revitalising communities through regeneration and urban planning. It was founded in 1990 and aims to 'advocate for the change His Majesty wants to see in the world'.
