Sir Rod Stewart makes David Beckham joke at King’s Foundation awards – as celebrities support royal initiative
A host of stars joined the King to celebrate his charitable foundation, but it was rock royalty Sir Rod Stewart who stole the show with a cheeky joke at David Beckham’s expense.
Sir Rod was presenting an award at St James’s Palace, at the first award ceremony for the King’s Foundation, the monarch’s charitable trust.
Asking to say a few words, the star, who was given a knighthood in 2016, said: “Penny and I are so honoured to be ambassadors for the King’s Trust.”
Lady Penny corrected him: “Foundation.”
“B*******,” Sir Rod laughed, adding: “I probably shouldn’t have said that.”
Sir Rod Stewart let a swear word slip on stage
He then said cheekily: “I am also wonderfully honoured to be a knight and, David, yours is coming soon.”
Beckham shook his head and laughed, with Sir Rod later saying he could take a joke.
The former England captain was announced as one of the foundation’s ambassadors last month, when it was revealed he’d spent time with the King talking about beekeeping and how to get younger people connected to nature.
The football star, who said at the event he had cuts on his hands from planting roses at the weekend, often shares videos on his social media accounts of his gardening projects and much-loved chickens.
But this time it was football the King wanted to talk about, asking about England’s defeat to Iceland on Friday ahead of the Euros.
The King and Beckham agreed on the outlook for England at the Euros. Pic: PA
Beckham appeared to say “no, no, I don’t think we should read too much into that”, with the King replying: “It doesn’t really matter, does it? It was a warming-up session.”
Nodding, Beckham said: “Warming up. We’ll be okay.”
The King then offered his own words of wisdom: “Because you don’t want to expend it all in one go at the beginning.”
That left Beckham to sum up: “We’ll be ready, Gareth will be ready.”
The King’s Foundation incorporates many of the monarch’s passions, aiming to revitalise communities through urban regeneration and planning and support sustainable food production and teach rural skills.
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Sir Rod Stewart shares a joke with the photographer. Pic: PA
The event was attended by other celebrity supporters, including broadcaster Alan Titchmarsh, former British Vogue editor Edward Enninful, model Naomi Campbell and actress Sienna Miller.
The monarch presented the final award of the evening, the King Charles III Harmony Award, to South Korean diplomat and former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.
The King, despite still undergoing cancer treatment, appeared determined to talk to as many people as possible. Sir Rod said he’d told the King he’d had similar procedures.
His wife, Penny Lancaster, added they had nothing but admiration for him and his commitment to service, after spending time with him at the ceremony.
Conservative Party leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir Starmer to sack Treasury minister Tulip Siddiq over allegations she lived in properties linked to allies of her aunt, Sheikh Hasina, the deposed prime minister of Bangladesh.
It comes after the current Bangladeshi leader, Muhammad Yunus, said London properties used by Ms Siddiq should be investigated.
He told the Sunday Times the properties should be handed back to his government if they were acquired through “plain robbery”.
Tory leader Ms Badenoch said: “It’s time for Keir Starmer to sack Tulip Siddiq.
“He appointed his personal friend as anti-corruption minister and she is accused herself of corruption.
“Now the government of Bangladesh is raising serious concerns about her links to the regime of Sheikh Hasina.”
Ms Siddiq insists she has “done nothing wrong”.
Her aunt was ousted from office in August following an uprising against her 20-year leadership and fled to India.
Ms Siddiq is also named with her aunt in Bangladesh court documents about meetings with the Russian government.
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has called on Sir Keir to sack the minister
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As economic secretary to the Treasury, Ms Siddiq is responsible for policy on both the City and tackling corruption.
She referred herself to the prime minister’s ethics watchdog on Monday following the reports about the properties.
On the same day, the prime minister said: “Tulip Siddiq has acted entirely properly by referring herself to the independent adviser, as she’s now done, and that’s why we brought into being the new code.
“It’s to allow ministers to ask the adviser to establish the facts, and yes, I’ve got confidence in her, and that’s the process that will now be happening.”
Police in Aberdeen have widened the search area for two sisters who disappeared four days ago in the city.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti, both 32, were last seen on CCTV on Market Street after leaving their home on Tuesday at around 2.12am.
The sisters – who are part of a set of triplets and originally from Hungary – crossed the Victoria Bridge to the Torry area and turned right on to a footpath next to the River Dee.
Eliza and Henrietta Huszti were last seen on CCTV in Market Street. Pic: Police Scotland/PA
They headed in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club but officers said there is no evidence to suggest the missing women left the immediate area.
Specialist search teams, police dogs and a marine unit have been trying to trace the pair.
The sisters crossed Victoria Bridge before walking along a footpath next to the River Dee
The pair were heading in the direction of Aberdeen Boat Club on the south side of the River Dee
Further searches are being carried out towards the Port of Aberdeen’s South Harbour and Duthie Park.
Police Scotland said it is liaising with authorities in Hungary to support the relatives of the two sisters.
Chief Inspector Darren Bruce said: “Eliza and Henrietta’s family are understandably extremely worried about them and we are working tirelessly to find them.
“We are seriously concerned about them and have significant resources dedicated to the inquiry.”
The sisters, from Aberdeen city centre, are described as slim with long brown hair.
Henrietta Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Eliza Huszti. Pic: Police Scotland
Officers have requested businesses in and around the South Esplanade and Menzies Road area to review their CCTV footage for the early morning of Tuesday 7 January.
Police added they are keen to hear from anyone with dashcam footage from that time.
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