"the extraordinary impact being delivered across South Asia"
King Charles III, Royal Founding Patron of the British Asian Trust, joined more than 300 guests at the charity’s Annual Dinner and Reception held at the Peninsula London on June 9, 2026.
The evening brought together figures from across entertainment, philanthropy and public life to support the Trust’s work across South Asia.
Guests watched a short film tracing the organisation’s origins, inspired by the 2007 India-Pakistan charity cricket match that first led to the creation of the British Asian Trust.
Following the screening, the King was presented with a framed photograph from the original occasion, showing him alongside the two team captains.
The guest list included host Sanjeev Bhaskar, Dame Meera Syal, Mahira Khan, Konnie Huq, Kunal Nayyar, Preeya Kalidas, Gurinder Chadha, Naughty Boy and Nihal Arthanayake.
Entertainment for the evening featured an exclusive performance by Jay Sean, adding to a programme focused on cultural connection and fundraising impact.
British Asian Trust chief executive Hitan Mehta said:
“We are grateful for the continued interest our Royal Founding Patron, His Majesty The King, takes in the Trust’s work.
“His deep and longstanding support for the British Asian Trust is a source of inspiration for our ambitions.”
“Tonight, we also celebrate the extraordinary impact being delivered across South Asia, made possible by the commitment and generosity of the British Asian diaspora and our wider partners.”
Sponsored by Westcombe Group, OakNorth and Godwit Travel, the annual gala raised funds to support the Trust’s work in child protection, education, livelihoods, mental health and conservation.
More than £1 million was raised on the night, reflecting strong support from guests and partners.
Since its founding in 2007, the British Asian Trust has worked with marginalised communities across India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka, reaching over 18.8 million people.
In the past year, the organisation has delivered several major initiatives.
In Pakistan, a PKR 1 billion government guarantee was approved for the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond, endorsed by the Prime Minister.
The milestone marks progress in outcomes-based financing and employment-focused social investment in the country.
The Trust also launched a $4 million Nano Entrepreneurship Sustainability & Transformation (NEST) Outcomes Facility, described as India’s first outcomes-based finance initiative aimed at supporting income growth for nano entrepreneurs.
Separately, the organisation reported a 98% reduction in human and elephant casualties from human-wildlife conflict in its project areas, highlighting its conservation impact.
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