King Charles joins host of celebrities, high-profile guests at glitzy world premiere

The monarch rubbed shoulders with a host of A-listers – and one very well-known Aussie figure – at the film premiere in London.

IN LONDON

King Charles has joined a host of British celebrities for a glitzy film premiere in London.

The monarch, a decades-long champion of environmental issues, joined James Blunt, Geri Halliwell Horner, Penny Lancaster, Ayda Field Williams and Cara and Poppy Delevingne at the Royal Festival Hall on Tuesday night to support the unveiling of Sir David Attenborough’s new documentary, Ocean.

The King was decked out in a tuxedo for the glamorous premiere. Picture: Kate Green/Getty Images for National Geographic

Robbie Williams’ wife, Ayda Field Williams, was among the celebrity guests. Picture: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

Model sisters Poppy Delevingne and Cara Delevingne. Picture: Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images for National Geographic

The King and legendary broadcaster, who have been friends and collaborators for many years, greeted each other warmly on the blue carpet, chatting away as they posed for pictures.

Sir David Attenborough chatted with the King before the screening. Picture: Alastair Grant - WPA Pool/Getty Images

The pair first met when then-Prince Charles was just nine years old, and came to the BBC studios – where Sir David worked at the time – to meet his cockatoo.

The environmentalist was also close friends with Charles’ late mother, Queen Elizabeth.

Ocean focuses on the changes that have occurred to the world’s oceans over the past 100 years, with the presenter describing the decline in life as “catastrophic” and warning that we are “almost out of time”.

“After almost 100 years on the planet, I now understand the most important place on Earth is not on land, but at sea,” he told the BBC.

The powerful documentary also has a significant Australian connection, with Dr Andrew “Twiggy” Forrest’s Minderoo Pictures investing £1.5 million (A$3.1 million) of the total £3.8 million (A$7.85 million) budget.

Former US Secretary of State John Kerry and Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest. Picture: Jenny Magee

Sofia Wellesley and James Blunt. Picture: Shane Anthony Sinclair/Getty Images

Forrest was also among the high-profile guests who joined the King and Sir David at the world premiere in London, and was spotted alongside former US Secretary of State John Kerry ahead of the screening.

“My lifetime has coincided with the great age of ocean discovery. Over the last hundred years, scientists and explorers have revealed remarkable new species, epic migrations and dazzling, complex ecosystems beyond anything I could have imagined as a young man,” Sir David said of his latest project.

“In this film, we share some of those wonderful discoveries, uncover why our ocean is in such poor health, and, perhaps most importantly, show how it can be restored to health.

“This could be the moment of change. Nearly every country on Earth has just agreed, on paper, to achieve this bare minimum and protect a third of the ocean. Together, we now face the challenge of making it happen.”

Ocean will premiere in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne this week and will followed by a series of Q&A screenings across the country.

Originally published as King Charles joins host of celebrities, high-profile guests at glitzy world premiere