The royal dolls' house at Windsor Castle is being revamped to include contemporary authors, with a reception given by Her Majesty the Queen. Author Alan Bennett attended the reception at Windsor Castle for the revamped dolls' house and interacted with the Queen. Queen Camilla presented medals to winners of the BBC 500 Words writing competition at a Windsor Castle ceremony. Camilla has supported the BBC 500 Words competition since 2015, demonstrating her longstanding commitment to children's writing. The specific contemporary authors being included in the revamped royal dolls' house have not been disclosed.
King Charles bestowed several honors at Windsor Castle, recognizing individuals for their services across various fields. Dame Charlotte Manley was made a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order by King Charles at Windsor Castle. She served as private secretary and treasurer to Prince Andrew from 2001 to 2003, and signed a £75 cheque to Monique Giannelloni from a Buckingham Palace bank account. David Beckham was knighted by King Charles at Windsor Castle for his services to sport and charitable causes. Carey Mulligan was awarded a CBE by King Charles at Windsor Castle for services to drama.
Warwick Davis was awarded an OBE at Windsor Castle for his services to drama and charity. He co-founded the charity Little People UK in 2012 with his late wife Samantha. Davis dedicated his Bafta Fellowship to his late wife Samantha, honoring her memory.
Princess Anne attended a reception for St John Ambulance in London marking 40 years of the National Cadet of the Year Competition. She is the Youth Commandant-in-Chief of St John Ambulance. Princess Anne visited the King's Royal Hussars in Salisbury as part of her role as Senior Colonel of the Household Division.
King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted a reception at Windsor Castle for social care workers. Carol Dight attended a reception at Windsor Castle celebrating social care workers, where King Charles described her as 'truly magnificent'. Dr. Manmeet Kaur attended an event at Windsor Castle in recognition of her contribution to community wellbeing.
Members and volunteers from Carers UK attended a prestigious reception hosted by the King and Queen to honour unpaid carers and those working in the caring profession. Thirteen carers were invited as special guests to the event at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, 11 February, joining representatives from other charities and health organizations.
Unpaid carers are people who support a loved one who would not manage without their help. Many unpaid carers do not see themselves as carers and simply view it as part of family life. It can take around two years for someone to realise they have moved into an unpaid caring role.
Caring can place a significant strain on mental and physical health, particularly for older people and young carers. Young carers may struggle at school, experience bullying and face higher risks of poor mental health and reduced educational attainment. Health outcomes for unpaid carers are also known to be worse than for those without caring responsibilities.
Based on research by Centre for Care, unpaid carers are estimated to save the country around £184 billion every year, a contribution similar to the annual cost of running the NHS. Around one in five people will become an unpaid carer at some point in their lives.
Through local partnerships, GP practices in North Tyneside are being encouraged to appoint carers champions, routinely ask patients about caring responsibilities and offer flexible appointments. GP practices in North Tyneside signpost carers to North Tyneside Carers Centre for emotional support, practical advice and benefits guidance.
A key theme from the day was that caring, whether paid or unpaid, is an expression of compassion and love – and that people receiving care should never feel like a burden.
Each of these carers has given their time and expertise to raise awareness of unpaid care, supporting Carers UK’s mission to improve life for unpaid carers — all while continuing to care for their own friends and family members. This highlights the ongoing efforts and recognition for unpaid carers' contributions.