King Charles III has hailed Sir Idris Elba as “a real inspiration” during a visit to his former college — telling the actor warmly: “Well, I’m very proud of you.”
The monarch and Queen Camilla were touring Barking and Dagenham College in east London when they were shown a film studio named in honour of the Hollywood star, who once studied there. The visit formed part of a wider engagement highlighting technical and professional education opportunities for young people.
Sir Idris, now one of Britain’s most recognisable actors, attended the college’s technical sixth form after securing a place at the National Youth Music Theatre — an opportunity made possible with support from The Prince's Trust, the charity founded by then-Prince Charles in 1976 to help disadvantaged young people into education, employment and training.
Greeting the royal couple, Elba joked: “I am the welcome party.” Reflecting on how much the college has grown since his student days, he said: “They have 6,000 students here. There were maybe 300 to 400 when I was here. I'm really excited.” He added with a grin: “They've got a studio named after yours truly.”
@hellomag Idris Elba is such a gent 🥰 #idriselba #kingcharles #queencamilla #royalfamily #britishroyals ♬ original sound - HELLO!
The King praised the actor in front of students, saying: “He’s a real inspiration.” Elba quipped back: “I said to them, who are you most nervous to meet, me or the King? They said the King.” Charles responded fondly: “Well, I’m very proud of you.”
Elba’s journey from east London student to global star is often cited as a textbook example of the kind of social mobility initiatives The Prince’s Trust aims to support. Over the past two decades, he has built an international career spanning television, film and music. He first gained critical acclaim for his role in the crime drama The Wire before becoming a household name in the UK through Luther.
His film career has included major roles in blockbuster franchises such as Thor, as well as award-nominated performances in projects including Beasts of No Nation and Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom, in which he portrayed Nelson Mandela.
@fallontonight What CAN’T @Idris Elba do?! #FallonFlashback #IdrisElba ♬ original sound - FallonTonight
Beyond acting, Elba has remained committed to community and youth initiatives, frequently speaking about the importance of arts funding and creative education. He has previously credited The Prince’s Trust with helping him access opportunities he might not otherwise have had — making the royal visit particularly symbolic.
For King Charles, whose charity has supported more than a million young people since its founding, the moment underscored the long-term impact of investing in youth potential. For students watching on, it was a rare sight: a King publicly applauding a former beneficiary whose career now spans Hollywood red carpets and global acclaim.
The exchange — warm, humorous and personal — highlighted a shared belief in the power of opportunity. As Sir Idris stood in a studio bearing his name, it served as a reminder of how far he has come — and how many young creatives now hope to follow in his footsteps.
