Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer paid tribute to carers at a Windsor Castle reception on Wednesday night, declaring his mission to give them "equal worth" to politicians. King Charles and Queen Camilla hosted the event in St George's Hall, bringing together paid and unpaid carers alongside charity representatives.
The reception marked the first public appearance of Starmer and the King together since the recent release of documents related to paedophile financier Jeffrey Epstein. King Charles had expressed "profound concern" on Monday regarding allegations against his brother Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor.
Starmer met guests in St George's Hall and spoke directly to carers: «I really wanted to come and say thank you, and also because I know first-hand that what carers do is incredible – it is skilled.» His sister works in the care sector with adults with Down syndrome.
The Prime Minister continued: «I've seen my sister at work – she works with adults with Down syndrome – and I couldn't do what she does. 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.»
Personal stories of care
TV personality Coleen Rooney spoke about her parents' experience caring for her sister Rosie, who died in 2013 at age 14 from Rett syndrome. Her family also fostered children.
«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,» Rooney said. «I've seen it first-hand, obviously, through my sister. It should be my mum who's here today, really, and my dad, because they'd go days and days without sleep.»
Broadcaster Kate Garraway shared her experience caring for her late husband Derek Draper, a former lobbyist and political adviser who died in January 2024 at age 56 from long-lasting coronavirus symptoms.
«We're all going to either need care or be a carer, there is no way around it, it happens to everybody,» Garraway said. She described the isolation: «It's very, very isolating – you know you're doing the right thing, you know you're doing a good thing but it doesn't feel very recognised because it's just you and the four walls.»
Garraway was the primary 24-hour-a-day carer for about eight months after Draper started to come out of a coma. «I was the primary 24-hour-a-day carer but after about eight months when Derek started to come out of a coma, I had to go back to work because we had no income,» she said.
«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 added.
Sir Ed Davey spoke about his 18-year-old son John, who has severe disabilities and is helped by two carers at home. «Family carers are amongst the most special people in our country and our world,» he said.
«Without them, our society probably would collapse – and people don't realise that,» Davey added. He called for greater recognition: «We should value them far more than we do.» He described the reception as «a powerful signal».
King's message to carers
King Charles addressed guests in a printed message, praising both unpaid and professional carers as foundational pillars of society.
«My wife and I are delighted to welcome you here this evening as we celebrate and give thanks to those remarkable individuals who dedicate their lives to the care of others,» the King wrote.
He highlighted the scale of care provision: «Across the United Kingdom today, there are some five million people providing unpaid care to a loved one.» That represents 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 King noted that alongside unpaid carers stand an estimated 1.6 million professionals who work in social care. «Together, these two great pillars of care – and those charities and organisations which support them – form the foundation upon which so many families and society itself depends,» he wrote.
The 2021 Census recorded 5.8 million unpaid carers in the UK. Of these, 29 percent provide more than 50 hours of care per week, and women make up 59 percent of the unpaid carer population.
The Epstein scandal has led to significant repercussions beyond the royal concerns. Thames Valley Police confirmed it is assessing claims related to the documents. The crisis has also led to two departures from Downing Street and a call for Starmer's resignation from the Scottish Labour leader. The scandal has reignited controversy surrounding Lord Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US due to his relationship with Epstein.
Note: This article was created with Artificial Intelligence (AI).
