Crowning Achievement

The King’s Trust gala in New York City showcased the pioneering work of King Charles IIl’s flagship charity in helping young people in the U.K., U.S. and around the world

- JACK ROYSTON

THERE WAS EMOTION IN THE ROOM AT THE King's Trust gala in New York City when Darnell Allman-Smith became overwhelmed on stage as he told of the assistance he received from the charity. The 26 year old had struggled to find work due to a five-year gap in his resume, time he had spent as a full-time carer for his mother, who had become seriously unwell.

Guests were told he was a tough kid from a tough part of London who had not been meant to amount to anything. He also bore the grief of the sudden, unexpected death of his older brother.

Help came when he had the opportunity to join a Making it in Media course through the King's Trust, and he had a deeply profound reason for signing up.

“At first I thought it wasn’t for me,” he said, “but something did light up. I wondered if I should give it a go. My confidence was really extremely low, I would go as far as to say nonexistent. But the moment I realized I should at least try was when I saw my niece, my brother’s daughter, since the day he died and...”

Allman-Smith bowed his head but, despite the crowd clapping and cheering him on, he could not finish his sentence. It was just one of the many moving stories told to guests, including Lionel Richie, Charlotte Tilbury and Heidi Klum at the gala to help King Charles III's biggest charity raise $2.5 million in aid of young people all over the world.

Newsweek joined English makeup entrepreneur Tilbury in sponsoring the event at Casa Cipriani, in Downtown Manhattan, on May 1. And she was glowing with praise about the impact the king has made, saying of him: “I think, is everyone just obsessed with him? We're all just obsessed with him, he's amazing.