His Majesty The King, Royal Founding Patron of the British Asian Trust, delivered a special message to over 300 guests at the charity’s Annual Dinner and Reception at the Peninsula London.
In a message read on stage, His Majesty praised the British Asian Trust for its crucial role in tackling pressing challenges across South Asia. He commended the Trust’s innovative, collaborative approach, saying it provides hope to many communities. He expressed heartfelt gratitude for the guests' unwavering support, which makes sustainable change possible.
The event was attended by notable guests including Abhishek Bachchan, Gurinder Chadha OBE, Amy Jackson, Ed Westwick, Nina Nannar, Kemi Badenoch MP, and Kumar Sangakkara. Highlights included performances by Bollywood star Kanika Kapoor and magician Magic Singh, as well as speeches from Sir Sadiq Khan and the Rt. Hon. Wes Streeting MP.
Sir Sadiq Khan expressed, “I’m proud to be British and a Londoner, but equally proud of my Pakistani heritage and Asian identity. It’s an honor to return to this annual dinner and show my support for your incredible work.”
A live auction showcased a range of exclusive prizes generously donated by supporters, including access to the Owner’s Box at a Mumbai Indians home game as part of a luxury holiday package from the Ambani family, a VIP Formula One experience in Abu Dhabi, VIP packages for the Wimbledon Men’s finals, and The Hundreds final day at Lords. Additionally, British Asian Trust Ambassador Katy Perry contributed VIP concert tickets for her upcoming UK tour.
British Asian Trust CEO, Richard Hawkes said: “The money raised tonight will help keep children safe and in school, it will provide young people with skills and training to help them secure long-term employment, and it will fund ground-breaking mental health and conservation work.”
Since its 2007 founding, the British Asian Trust has positively impacted over 13 million people across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. In the past year, it launched initiatives like LiftEd, improving literacy for 4 million children in India, Milkar, a mental health campaign for 180 million in Pakistan, and a program supporting acid attack survivors in Bangladesh. The Annual Dinner and Reception was hosted by British Asian Trust Ambassador Nihal Arthanayake.