Stars join the King and Queen at a glittering Buckingham Palace reception for British humanitarian workers

A former refugee who dreamed of coming to London and having her picture taken at Buckingham Palace said it was a “miracle” to meet the King last night.

Nizam Uddin came to Britain 15 years ago after living in a camp in Bangladesh for 18 years after fleeing Rohingya persecution in Myanmar.

He described the camp, one of the largest refugee settlements in the world, as a “prison” and said he and his family longed to escape.

Mr Uddin came to Britain under a government settlement scheme and now works as an interpreter, black cab driver, studying to teach and is also general secretary of Britain’s Rohingya community.

King Charles III meets actress Joanna Lumley

He was presented to King Charles at a reception at Buckingham Palace, held by the King and Queen, accompanied by the Duke of Gloucester, to thank those who have worked on the United Kingdom’s contribution to humanism, including in recognition for sixty years of disasters. Emergency committee.

He said: ‘It was a dream that one day we would come to London and pose for a photo outside Buckingham Palace.

Tonight I am there as a guest of the King. It was a great honor to meet him.’

The reception showcased the human stories of those involved in the sector, from fundraisers to frontline workers, and those affected by crises, including communities trying to protect their cultural heritage, and refugees building new lives in Britain.

Their Majesties met the Chief Executive of the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC), Mr Saleh Saeed, as well as high-profile supporters including Dame Joanna Lumley, Sir Michael Palin and actor Adrian Lester, who have launched an appeal for the charity, as they celebrate their 60th anniversary year.

There were also a number of well-known television journalists, including Jon Snow – who chatted with the King about being a father to a three-year-old son at the age of 76, and about his work around the world at the site of some of the ‘ The World’s Greatest Humanitarian Disasters – Yalda Hakim, Lyse Doucet and Sir Trevor McDonald.

Speaking to the Mail, Sir Trevor recalled his 2008 documentary with the late Duke of Edinburgh.

‘He was a lot of fun. A somewhat reckless driver. He drove me around Sandringham and we got stuck in the mud. He just exploded and said, “Why is this damn thing in the mud?!”

“What I couldn’t say was, ‘Because you drove it there, sir!’ Discretion was the greater part of courage,” he recalled with a laugh.

‘He was absolutely wonderful. There was a man who warned me in the beginning about what to say and what not to say and so on. And actually it all went fine. It actually didn’t bother the duke at all.’

The King was very pleased with assistance dog Coco, who was with her owner Archie Douglas, who has raised more than £25,000 for the DEC despite suffering from a brain tumor.

In the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, Their Majesties viewed displays from the Disasters Emergency Committee, Turquoise Mountain – an organization founded by the King himself – and ShelterBox.

The Disasters Emergency Committee presented a selection of relief items they provide in the event of a crisis or emergency, including handwashing stations, solar-powered lighting and a dignity kit to help women and girls manage hygiene.

Their Majesties then joined the reception to meet fundraisers, volunteers and supporters from a range of organizations including; ActionAid UK, British Red Cross, Oxfam, Refugee Action and UNICEF. A Buckingham Palace spokesman said the king had made a donation to the British Red Cross, of which he is president.

Businesswoman Deborah Meaden, right, was among the guests

Queen Camilla with former Conservative MP and minister turned podcaster Rory Stewart

The DEC brings together 15 leading British aid organizations to raise money quickly and efficiently in times of crisis abroad.

Recent appeals include the Turkey-Syria Earthquake Appeal, the Pakistan Flood Appeal and the Ukraine Humanitarian Appeal. This year marks the 60th anniversary of DEC’s existence.

Over the past 60 years, the British public has donated £2.4 billion to 77 national appeals, reaching millions of people in need and responding to some of the world’s biggest humanitarian crises. As Duchess of Cornwall, the Queen became president of ShelterBox in 2007.