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British Asian Trust gala champions progress across India and South Asia
King Charles III joined guests in celebrating the contributions of South Asian leaders, artists and philanthropists working to drive change across the region.
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Ankita Baidya - Sat, 13, Jun 2026
- 05:00 EDT
- 51
King Charles III attends the British Asian Trust’s Annual Dinner and Reception in London on June 9, 2026. / British Asian Trust
King Charles III joined more than 300 guests at the British Asian Trust’s Annual Dinner and Reception in London on June 9, as the charity raised more than £1 million to support programs across South Asia.
The King, who founded the British Asian Trust in 2007 and serves as its Royal Founding Patron, attended the event at The Peninsula London, where supporters gathered to celebrate the organization's impact in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
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The fundraiser highlighted several major initiatives launched over the past year, including a $4 million Nano Entrepreneurship Sustainability and Transformation (NEST) Outcomes Facility in India. The program, described by the Trust as India's first outcomes-based finance initiative for nano entrepreneurs, aims to support income growth among small business owners.
In Pakistan, the Trust helped secure a government-backed guarantee worth PKR 1 billion for the Pakistan Skills Impact Bond, an employment-focused financing program endorsed by the country's prime minister. The organization also reported a 98 percent reduction in human and elephant casualties in areas where it works on human-wildlife conflict mitigation.
Since its founding, the British Asian Trust says it has reached more than 18.8 million people through initiatives focused on child protection, education, livelihoods, mental health and environmental conservation.
The evening drew a number of prominent British Asian personalities, including actor and comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar, actress and author Meera Syal, actor Kunal Nayyar, filmmaker Gurinder Chadha, actress Preeya Kalidas and singer Jay Sean, who performed during the event.
Guests also viewed a short film reflecting on the origins of the charity, which emerged from a 2007 India-Pakistan charity cricket event. During the evening, the King was presented with a framed photograph commemorating the occasion.
British Asian Trust CEO Hitan Mehta said the King's continued support remained an important source of inspiration for the organization.
"We are grateful for the continued interest our Royal Founding Patron, His Majesty The King, takes in the Trust's work," Mehta said. "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."
The gala was sponsored by Westcombe Group, OakNorth and Godwit Travel. Founded by King Charles when he was Prince of Wales, the British Asian Trust works with local organizations across South Asia to address poverty, inequality and environmental challenges through partnerships with governments, businesses and philanthropic donors.
Discover more at New India Abroad.
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