The King and Queen recognise carers with a reception at Windsor Castle

The King and Queen and members of the Royal Family were joined by the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer at a reception to recognise the hard work and challenges faced by millions of carers across the United Kingdom, from professional carers to young people with caring responsibilities. 

The 2021 Census revealed that there are 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK, with 29% providing more than 50 hours of care each week, and women making up 59% of the unpaid carer population. 

Barnardo’s has estimated that as many as one in five children in the UK may be young carers. The adult social care sector in England alone employs approximately 1.59 million people, including care workers, nurses, social workers, and support staff.

In a message to guests at the reception, The King expressed:

Whether through professional commitment or through the quiet, unheralded devotion of family and friendship, you represent something profoundly valuable not just within our communities, but for humanity as a whole.

Read His Majesty's message in full here.

At the start of the reception in St George’s Hall, The King and Queen, together with the Prime Minister and Lady Starmer, met a small group of people with a range of caring experiences to hear their stories before joining the wider reception. 

Guests at the reception included representatives from charities and community groups involved in the care sector and in supporting carers, as well as individuals with direct caring responsibilities. 

Their Majesties maintain long‑standing links and patronages with a wide range of organisations supporting carers, including Age UK, Macmillan Cancer Support and Maggie’s. 

The Duchess of Edinburgh’s patronages represented at the reception include Shooting Star Children’s Hospices and Brainwave. 

The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester’s patronages included Parkinson’s UK and The Children’s Society.