‘The King slipped me a tenner’: King Charles buys copy of Big Issue with his portrait on the cover

During the commemoration of his 75th anniversary, King Charles III purchased a copy of the "Big Issue" magazine from a street vendor named Kelvin Gregory.

The monarch named Charles III purchased a version of the Big Issue publication with his own likeness embellishing the front page.

In this week's special edition of the magazine, there is an article written by the monarch and an exceptional picture captured by the acclaimed photographer Rankin.

When the King visited a FareShare distribution center near Didcot to launch his Coronation Food Program, he encountered Kelvin Gregory, a 61-year-old seller who typically operates outside Somerset House.

"Unbelievable!" Kelvin exclaimed following his encounter with the King and Queen Camilla, where he had the opportunity to shake their hands.

He inquired about my welfare, whether I had a place to stay, my experience with selling the magazine, and the ways in which the Big Issue has provided assistance to me.

I expressed that I derive pleasure from engaging in my current activity because the Big Issue was instrumental in getting me through tough times. My sales experience enabled me to acquire social skills and have a renewed sense of self-assurance. The Big Issue is really a valuable support system, hence it is crucial that people continue to offer their support.

When discussing his meeting with royalty, Kelvin shared, "It felt like a dream. The person was incredibly empathetic and captivating."

"It was such an exceptional experience that is beyond compare. Truly an activity worth trying at least once in a lifetime."

The king is aware that Big Issue sellers are not begging, but working hard instead. Therefore, he compensated Kelvin for his magazine.

Kelvin handed me a note in a discreet manner. He gave me ten pounds, but I decided to keep it as a memento rather than using it. I might even consider framing it for memory's sake.

The goal of the Coronation Food Project is to enhance the effort to divert excess food to entities that can distribute it to those who are facing food insecurity.

The monarchs, King and Queen, visited FareShare where they chatted with the workers and unpaid helpers while they arranged and packaged food. The heads of the most prominent British supermarkets were also present and made a promise to reduce their food waste even more.

Kelvin was joined by Lord Bird, the founder of Big Issue. Lord Bird reminded King Charles of their enduring relationship with the publication which began in the 1990s when the Prince of Wales inaugurated offices in London.

HM's Coronation Food Project is a well-structured initiative that aims to gather numerous food programs. Its primary focus is on coordination and improving the distribution of food.

It was great to witness the King and numerous individuals striving to enhance the effectiveness of food delivery and reduce food wastage; I felt glad to be present there.

I brought up the topic with the monarch that it's crucial to allocate a greater portion of our time and resources towards preventing and treating issues, and he concurred with my viewpoint.

The final message he conveyed to me was: 'It is important that we prioritize prevention measures.'

In my opinion, these words have the potential to construct an improved social plan for eliminating poverty. It is essential to address the crisis at hand, but it is equally important to focus on measures that can prevent such crises from occurring in the future.

Discover additional information regarding the Coronation Food Project at this location. Emulate the actions of our sovereign by purchasing The Big Issue, presently obtainable from vendors all throughout the nation!