King Charles teamed up with actor Idris Elba for a summit at St James’ Palace where they met young people and charities to discuss ways to tackle the devastating impact of knife crime
King Charles has spoken out about the impact of ‘terrifying’ violent knife crime as he hosted a special summit on the ‘devastating’ issue. The monarch teamed up with actor Idris Elba to meet young people and charities at St James’s Palace today to discuss finding positive opportunities for young people affected by knife crime.
And the King, 76, told one campaigner, Kyle Shaw Tullin, he was’ riveted’ by his story after he told how he almost died when he was stabbed aged 17, spending two weeks in hospital. But by joining a local boxing gym, he turned his life around because he was “too tired” from working out to go and get into trouble and is now in the Royal Marines and a Team GB boxer.
After making notes while listening to stories from young people and charities, Charles, who was also joined by Prime Minister Keir Starmer, gave an off-the-cuff speech saying: “I was riveted to hear what Kyle was saying about his experiences.
“Because it does seem to me, what you were saying, about being too exhausted to get into trouble, is quite a good point you’re a teenager. And otherwise, you cost so much energy, which could go the wrong way if it’s not helped to go in a positively constructive direction. So that was a good point.
“There was a wonderful old Irishman I knew years ago who said that two sheep’s heads are always better than one. And it’s true if you bring more people together who are involved in the same sort of field, then there is a great deal more you can achieve.
“So I’m enormously grateful to you all. I look forward very much to seeing the actual progress on the ground, which will make a huge difference to so many parents’ lives, otherwise they’re devastated by the terrifying result of violent knife crime.”
Speaking to the panel, Elba also spoke of how “we can’t take the foot off the pedal” when it comes to tackling knife crime while the Prime Minister spoke about new laws being enacted including Ronan’s Law which bans Ninja Swords.
After the event, Starmer told the Mirror that as a parent, the issue of knife crime is something he feels “very personally”. He explained: “Some of the most heartbreaking moments in this job have been meeting parents whose children were victims of knife crime. I think of Zoey McGill who showed me a video of her singing to her son as he lay dying in his hospital bed. I think of the times I’ve met Pooja Kanda whose son Ronan was killed by a ninja sword.
“Their courage – and the courage of so many grieving parents like them – is extraordinary. From such devastation, they have found a remarkable strength to fight for change. They are determined to stop other parents from going through what they have endured.
“It’s something I feel very personally. Not just as a parent, trying to comprehend what they’ve been through, but because tackling crime and securing justice has been my life’s work. That’s why, as Prime Minister, I set the goal to halve knife crime in a decade as part of this government’s Plan for Change.
“In the last year, we have already taken some important steps. I promised Pooja that we would ban the ninja swords that killed her son. And we’ve kept that promise: ‘Ronan’s Law’ will become the law of the land. Throughout this month, we’re running a knife surrender scheme, with mobile vans collecting these knives off our streets. And from next month, it will be illegal to sell or own these vicious blades.”
It comes as the King and Elba, 52, are teaming up for a Netflix documentary to mark the 50th anniversary of The King’s Trust. Charles launched charity, then known as The Prince’s Trust, in 1976 to help vulnerable young people get their lives on track. A six-strong Netflix crew was in the palace to film sections of the event for their documentary that is set to be aired next year.
Before the round table at St James’ Palace, the King also met charity workers and King’s Trust supporters and alumni. Trust ambassador Michael Gilroy, 27, of CEO Evol Promotions for Muay Thai events, found help from the then Prince’s Trust three years ago, and scored a £5,000 grant.
He described learning more about running a business on a three-day course run by the Trust than the whole previous year. The King said: “So it doesn’t make a difference? Wonderful. It makes me very proud.”
Speaking afterwards Michael said: “He really is proud of us and he is committed to bettering young people’s lives around the UK. “The Trust has changed my life and when someone like the King tells you is proud of you it doesn’t get much better than that.”
