With Charles’ flourishing friendship with Maya Jama on display this week, his circle of celebrity friends is branching out ever further.
The King has been building friendships with some of the UK’s most-loved national treasures for decades; from Judi Dench and Lionel Richie to Alan Titchmarsh and Jay Blades.
Since his cancer diagnosis, he has enjoyed the support of firm friends such as Sir Rod Stewart, as well as Richard E Grant whose heart he touched with a surprise visit during Grant’s wife’s cancer battle in 2021.
A garden party held at Buckingham Palace this week provided a who’s who of some of the previous few who make up the King’s inner circle.
But far more famous faces are close to the King and his family than the British public may realise.
MailOnline has taken a look at some of the King’s closest friends, from a former Spice Girl to the man behind Mr Bean.
Alan Titchmarsh
Alan Titchmarsh has known King Charles for more than 40 years and had dinner with him the night before his mother died
Alan Titchmarsh is one of the King’s oldest friends, with the pair’s relationship lasting more than 40 years.
The gardener and veteran broadcaster, 75, who was once awarded an MBE by the late Queen Elizabeth II, has frequently had private visits with Charles throughout their friendship.
He even had dinner with then-Prince Charles the day before the Queen’s death.
Speaking to the Times after Charles became King, he said he had ‘no assumptions’ that their friendship would continue as it had previously.
He said: ‘I have no assumptions our friendship will continue — he’s king now, he’ll be very busy.
‘I believe our feelings for each other will continue. We understand each other.
‘He’s a good man who works unbelievably hard for the good of our country.’
Maya Jama
Maya Jama has won new fans after her endearing encounters with Charles and her appearance at his garden party this week, where she apologised for breaking royal protocol
Maya Jama may have only known the King for a few years, but she has already made her mark with her glamourous appearances at key events close to his heart.
Jama has repeatedly supported the King’s charity, the Prince’s Trust, attending its fundraising galas and annual awards events.
She will also have stuck in the royal mind for her endearing encounters – from awkwardly offering Charles her hand to shake to apologising for breaking royal protocol by touching him.
At a garden party at Buckingham Palace this week, Jama, who is dating rap star Stormzy, was humble about her previous encounters with the King.
Aside from the Prince’s Trust, Maya has rubbed shoulders with royalty at numerous events in the social calendar, including at major royal outings such as Ascot.
Geri Horner
Geri Horner is a close friend of King Charles – he even wrote to her after she announced she was leaving the Spice Girls
Another stalwart supporter of the Prince’s Trust has been a cheeky Geri Horner, who has appeared at ease in the company of her friend Charles and his son, William, Prince of Wales.
Meeting Charles in 1997 to celebrate the charity’s 21st birthday, Geri told him: ‘You’re very sexy’.
She then gave him a kiss on the cheek, leaving a smacking red lip-print behind, and patted his bum.
Speaking about the meeting later, Geri said: ‘Patting him on the bottom was against royal protocol but we’re all human. There was a lot of nervous energy, young women, happy antics.’
The pair became good friends with Charles even writing to her when she announced her departure from the Spice Girls.
He wrote: ‘The group will not be the same without you. What will I do without your wonderfully friendly greeting?
‘Really wanted you to know how deeply I’ve appreciated your great generosity to my Prince’s Trust and how much I wish you well for whatever the future holds.’
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie first got to know Charles in the 1980s, and has now met his wife Queen Camilla on multiple occasions too
Singing legend Lionel Richie has been close with King Charles since the 1980s, when they met through the Prince’s Trust.
He has gone on to host events on behalf of the charity at Charles’ request, and even appeared at the Coronation Concert last May.
Lionel provided some much-needed reassurance to the public as to the monarch’s health following his cancer diagnosis, telling the inaugural King’s Trust Global Gala in New York earlier this month that his friend is ‘doing well’.
On their close relationship, he said previously: ‘He does have this amazing sense of humor that no one knows about. He’s a secret comedian.’
Richie told the BBC at the time that he had ‘known King Charles for a while’, adding that they met when he was asked to sing at a Prince’s Trust event at Wembley Arena.
He said: ‘From that moment on we’ve been associated with giving back. I tell you something interesting. I’m from Alabama, he’s from the Royal Family.
‘The idea of the two of us being friends in any capacity other than just ‘hello, how are you’, seems unusual. But when we met I found something about him. We have the same heart. He has an amazing heart and he wants to give so much back.
‘I’m the same way. Believe it or not we’re the same age. We have a little joke between the two of us, but he always says to me, Lionel, how do you look the way you look. And I said if you come to Hollywood, I can help you!’
Cheryl Tweedy
Former Girls Aloud singer Cheryl has been close with the King for more than a decade, as they got to know each other through his support of her charity, The Cheryl Trust.
Cheryl got off to a nervous start at her first meeting with then-Prince Charles in 2012 that she forgot to call him by his full title and simply said ‘Charles’ – but told how amid her embarrassment, he couldn’t stop laughing.
Through her work with the trust Cheryl says King Charles has become a personal friend as has Kate, Princess of Wales.
The trust helps disadvantaged and vulnerable young people in the North East in collaboration with the Prince’s Trust.
Jay Blades
Jay Blades, who recently split from wife Lisa Marie Zboven, hit it off with the King so well on The Repair Shop that he was later invited to his 2023 coronation
Star of The Repair Shop Jay Blades is probably not the most obvious friend of the King, but could be one of the closest.
The furniture restorer has previously praised his close friend and told reporters Charles is ‘just a normal geezer’.
The pair became close while filming an hour-long special of the show called The Repair Shop: A Royal Visit, in which King Charles needed help with an 18th-century bracket clock and a piece made for Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee by British ceramics maker Wemyss Ware.
He said the damaged 19th century ceramic piece fell over when someone was opening a window – ‘they didn’t own up’, he joked.
The show was filmed in August 2021, when Charles was still Prince of Wales, in preparations for the BBC’s centenary celebrations.
However, when it finally aired last October, it was the friendship between the two men which left viewers blown away, with one writing: ‘The rapport between King Charles and Jay Blades on The Repair Shop is superb. In a world where everything is ‘binned’ at the drop of a hat, it’s a brilliant and refreshing show.’
Jay, who recently split from wife Lisa Marie Zboven, hit it off with the King so well that he was later invited to his 2023 coronation.
Judi Dench
Judi Dench says she and the King have much in common, from loving long walks to wanting to protect the countryside
Award-winning actress Judi Dench has previously told how she and the King have many things in common: from a love of walking to his deep commitment to protection the countryside.
The pair recently collaborated on Countryfile’s Plant Britain campaign in 2020, and the James Bond star also fiercely defended the royal family against Netflix’s The Crown.
She accused the streaming giant of ‘sensationalism’ in some of the scenes after the fifth season was released.
Speaking about the King’s hobbies, she previously said: ‘What struck me when we met was his passion for painting, his love of walking, for trees, the countryside and Cornwall — everything I also feel so deeply about.’
She was also invited to his coronation last May, alongside celebrities such as the Beckhams and Orlando Bloom.
Richard E Grant
Richard E Grant and the King have become particularly close after Charles’ kind gesture during the last weeks of Joan Grant’s life
Actor Richard E Grant’s friendship with Charles spans more than a quarter of a century and began after he was invited to become an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust.
They have grown particularly close in recent years after the King paid him a visit as he nursed his wife, Joan, in the final weeks of her life as she battled terminal cancer in 2021.
He described the ‘most surprising’ act of generosity to Jay Rayner on his Out To Lunch podcast.
‘Just weeks before Joan died, he contacted us and said could he come and visit,’ he said.
‘We said yes, and he sat in our garden in this cottage in Gloucestershire where she spent the last eight months of her life and brought a bag of mangos because he knew they were her favourite fruit and sat with her and was very engaged and held her hand.’
The actor is also friends with Queen Camilla, having written long letters to one another.
Miriam Margolyes
Miriam Margolyes has swum with Queen Camilla during a three-day trip to Sandringham
Harry Potter actress Miriam Margolyes is so close to the King she was once invited to a three-day ‘house party’ at Sandringham.
She had met Charles ‘a handful’ of times over the years, but said she was ‘amazed’ to get the exclusive invitation.
She joined the likes of Stephen Fry and David Hockney, and said the group was entertained by the King performing a monologue by Barry Humphries.
During her stay, she swam with now-Queen Camilla, hailing her and the then-Prince ‘cracking good hosts.’
Writing in her memoir, she said: ‘I think he’s a good man who cares a great deal for the country, and I can’t bear the horrid things people write about him and the other members of the Royal Family.’
Sir Rod Stewart
Sir Rod Stewart is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and has performed at both Charles’ 60th birthday and Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee
Singer Sir Rod Stewart has long been a supportive friend of the monarchy, and was knighted by Charles in 2016.
He is an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust and has performed at both Charles’ 60th birthday and Queen Elizabeth II’s Platinum Jubilee.
Speaking after the late Queen’s death, Sir Rod said: ‘He’s had a long apprenticeship and I don’t think William should take over just yet.
‘I want Charles to enjoy this. This is what he’s lived for, this is what he’s trained for and he’s going to be very good at it.’
After the King revealed he was undergoing treatment for cancer earlier this year, Sir Rod was one of the first to offer public support.
The singer was diagnosed with prostate cancer in 2019, and was given the all clear in 2022.
Stella McCartney
Stella McCartney, who was awarded a CBE in 2023, has previously given him a personal tour of a fashion installation which she made for the COP26 summit on climate change
Fashion designer Stella McCartney’s commitment to sustainability in recent years has made her a natural friend of the King.
Stella, who was awarded a CBE in 2023, has previously given him a personal tour of a fashion installation which she made for the COP26 summit on climate change.
The King has spoken out about the need to prevent global warming for decades and has faced high-profile environmental campaigns such as to save the world’s rainforests.
The pair also shared a sweet moment after Queen Elizabeth II’s death, when they came face to face for the first time since Charles ascended the throne.
Stella greeted her friend warmly with kisses on the cheek as she gushed: ‘I don’t know what to do anymore!’
The Beckhams
David and Victoria Beckham are footballing royalty, but are also well-connected within real royal circles too.
The former England star has previously described the royal family as ‘very easy to get along with’.
The couple are regulars at royal events including royal weddings and jubilees.
As well as being on friendly terms with Charles, David was an admirer of his late mother and met with her many times.
He famously made headlines when he queued for hours to see her lying in state alongside ordinary members of the public.
It was reported that David met with Charles as recently as last week, after the monarch’s schedule meant he was too busy to meet with Prince Harry during his flying visit to London.
Rowan Atkinson
Comedian and actor Rowan Atkinson was invited to the King’s sons’ royal weddings
Mr Bean star Rowan Atkinson is another old friend of King Charles, who has been present at some of the most important moments of his life.
He was invited to both Charles’ 60th birthday celebrations and his wedding to Queen Camilla.
The comedian and actor has done a lot of fundraising for the Prince’s Trust.
He has also received a taste of royal life himself, having filmed a coronation scene in hit comedy spy film, Johnny English.
He was awarded a CBE in 2013.