The King undertakes engagements in London

Gray’s Inn

The King, Royal Bencher at The Honourable Society of Gray's Inn, visited the Society and heard more about their work to support, educate, and develop both aspiring and practising barrister Members.

Gray’s Inn is one of the Inns of Court – the historic societies that have educated and trained barristers in England and Wales for more than six hundred years.

Many of the students are undertaking postgraduate studies in order to be called to the Bar and will benefit from compulsory and supplementary education from the Inn throughout their career journey.

His Majesty met staff, students and barristers in the Hall before touring the grounds, meeting garden staff and students from the new City Junior School which is based within their grounds.

There was also the opportunity to see the portrait of His Majesty that was painted by June Mendoza in 1979, which was commissioned to commemorate his status as Royal Bencher.

St Bartholomew’s Hospital

The King then visited the Grade I listed North Wing of St Bartholomew’s Hospital to recognise the success of Barts Heritage for their Sharing Historic Barts project.

His Majesty met supporters of the project, as well as some of the specialist craftspeople and conservators who are undertaking the restoration works. The building is about to undergo a three-year restoration project starting in 2023, the 900th anniversary year of St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

His Majesty visited the project in May 2021, when, as Prince of Wales, he was Patron of the Barts Heritage appeal. Barts Heritage is leading the rescue and rejuvenation of the historic buildings of national importance of St Bartholomew’s Hospital.

The King also met frontline staff from the Hospital and heard about other important projects that are part of the hospital’s 900th anniversary campaign including a new centre of excellence for breast cancer surgery, which is being supported through Barts Charity.

The hospital has provided free healthcare on the same site since reign of Henry I making it the oldest hospital in the UK. It is now a leading UK hospital, home to the largest cardiac unit in Europe and London’s second biggest cancer centre.

The Goldsmiths’ Centre

On the final visit of the day, His Majesty visited The Goldsmiths’ Centre where he was introduced to young people on The Goldsmiths’ Centre’s Foundation and Goldsmiths’ Company Apprenticeship programmes.

The Goldsmiths’ Centre is the UK’s leading educational charity dedicated to improving skills and shaping the careers of jewellers, silversmiths and people working in the precious metal industry. Founded by the Goldsmiths’ Company, the charity has been safeguarding the future of this ancient craft since 2012 by helping hundreds of people build successful careers.

The King also hallmarked a piece of processional cross commissioned by the Goldsmiths’ Company on behalf of His Majesty The King when Prince of Wales, and created using the silversmithing skills being taught to many of the young people he met.

The Goldsmiths’ Company is a membership organisation and Livery Company, of which The King is an Honorary Court Assistant.

The Cross is the gift of the Goldsmiths’ Company and will be shared by the Church in Wales and the Roman Catholic Church in Wales, which were both represented at the hallmarking.

The Cross, whose design is based on one of the sacred treasures of the Welsh princes, has been made by the Welsh maker Michael Lloyd, and with The King’s longstanding environmental priorities in mind - is created from recycled silver with a shaft of windfall timber.