Prime Minister and Monarch Unite to Celebrate UK's Carers at Windsor Castle
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has declared his mission to grant carers "equal worth" to that afforded to politicians, during a special reception at Windsor Castle hosted by King Charles III and Queen Camilla. The event on Wednesday night brought together hundreds of guests, including both paid and unpaid carers alongside charity representatives, in a powerful show of recognition for those who dedicate their lives to caring for others.
Starmer's Personal Tribute to Carers' 'Incredible' Work
Speaking in the historic St George's Hall, Sir Keir Starmer paid heartfelt tribute to carers, describing their work as "incredible" and "skilled." The Prime Minister drew upon personal experience, referencing his sister who works with adults with Down syndrome. "I've seen my sister at work – she works with adults with Down syndrome – and I couldn't do what she does," Starmer confessed to the assembled guests.
"One of my missions, in a sense, is to give equal worth to those like carers who do jobs that I couldn't do as we give to politicians and those in positions of power," the Prime Minister stated emphatically. This marked the first public appearance together for Starmer and the King since the recent release of millions of documents connected to convicted paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein by US authorities.
Celebrity Voices Amplify Carers' Struggles
The Windsor reception featured several prominent figures who shared their personal experiences with caregiving. Television personality and writer Coleen Rooney spoke briefly with Charles and Camilla about her sister Rosie, who passed away in 2013 at age fourteen after a lifelong battle with Rett syndrome, a rare neurological genetic disorder.
Rooney, who was raised in a family that fostered children and is married to former footballer Wayne Rooney, emphasized that parents caring for dependent children work "24/7." "It's something that isn't talked about enough and isn't celebrated enough because, no matter what, it's not a job: it's because you care," she reflected, adding that her parents would often go "days and days without sleep" while caring for her sister.
Broadcaster Kate Garraway also attended, speaking candidly about caring for her late husband, former lobbyist and political adviser Derek Draper, who died in January 2024 after suffering long-lasting symptoms from coronavirus. "We're all going to either need care or be a carer, there is no way around it, it happens to everybody," Garraway observed, describing the experience as "very, very isolating."
Garraway revealed the financial strain many carers face, noting that after eight months of being her husband's primary 24-hour carer, she had to return to work because the family had no income. "People every day give up their jobs to care and find themselves in a very changed financial position. That challenges how people and families survive," she explained.
Political Figures Highlight Systemic Challenges
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey, whose eighteen-year-old son John has severe disabilities and receives home care from two carers, attended the event and praised family carers as "amongst the most special people in our country and our world." He warned that "without them, our society probably would collapse – and people don't realise that," calling for carers to be valued far more than they currently are.
In a printed message to guests, King Charles praised the millions of carers across the United Kingdom, including approximately five million people providing unpaid care to loved ones – representing one in every ten adults. "That is one in every 10 adults who, alongside the demands of their own lives, have taken upon their shoulders the sacred and selfless responsibility of caring for another human being," the monarch wrote.
Charles also acknowledged the estimated 1.6 million professionals working in social care – nurses, care workers, support staff and others who have "chosen to make compassion their vocation." He described unpaid carers and professional care workers as "two great pillars of care" that form "the foundation upon which so many families and society itself depends."
The Stark Reality of UK Care Statistics
According to the 2021 Census, there are 5.8 million unpaid carers in the United Kingdom, with twenty-nine percent providing more than fifty hours of care each week. Women make up fifty-nine percent of the unpaid carer population, highlighting significant gender disparities in caregiving responsibilities across the nation.
The Windsor event occurred against a backdrop of political turbulence, with both Charles and Starmer navigating the fallout from the Epstein scandal. The King had expressed "profound concern" just days earlier regarding allegations that his brother, Prince Andrew, shared confidential reports from his role as UK trade envoy with the convicted sex offender. Thames Valley Police confirmed they are assessing these claims.
The crisis has already led to two departures from Downing Street and prompted Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar to call for Starmer's resignation. It has also reignited controversy surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the United States despite his relationship with Epstein.
Despite these political challenges, the Windsor reception served as a powerful reminder of the essential role carers play in British society, with political leaders and royalty uniting to acknowledge their vital contributions and the systemic support they require.
