Inside the starriest charity event in Scotland to celebrate 50 years of The King's Trust

Gaby Soutar

Rod Stewart is singing a husky-voiced rendition of Have I Told You Lately That I Love You, and paying tribute to his late friend Bonnie Tyler, who died yesterday, while Jools Holland accompanies him on the piano. Stewart’s wife, Penny Lancaster, is clapping along enthusiastically in the audience, who are one-by-one getting to their feet to dance along.

I'm at the five-star Gleneagles hotel in Perthshire for their King's Trust 50th Anniversary event, and other stars are in attendance at this charity gala. We've already had a Really Wild Fashion Showcase in the ballroom, with its vast chandeliers and cupola. It was hosted by Ewan McGregor, who said, "It makes you proud to be Scottish" after we had watched a dramatic autumn/winter 2026 Tweed and tartan, furry muffs and caped men’s and women’s fashion show from Nadja Swarovski's outdoorsy label.

There were hats by star milliner Philip Treacy, shoes by Manolo Blahnik, and jewellery by Roberto Coin. It was paired with rousing pipe music and images of stags, capercaillie, and misty mountains on the screen behind. This is an exclusive capsule collection that was created specially for the occasion. There are kilts made by the person who’s sitting beside me, Graeme Bone, and he gasps when McGregor, who also shares that his "mum is the biggest Rod Stewart fan", gives Bone a namecheck at the end of his speech.

Gaby Soutar

We’ve already had a Laurent Perrier Rose reception out on the lawn, where guests including The Traitors UK winner Stephen Libby, who is wearing a dapper kilt and unseasonal sweater, are milling around and eating colourful canapes. I also chat to fashion designer and King’s Trust alumni Siobhan McKenzie, who has designed the outfits for Tea Scotland at the upcoming Commonwealth Games. She’s “dressed to impress”, as the invite requested, all in tartan with a Scottish twist.

However, what we're all really here for is to raise funds for the King's Trust, which has been helping young people aged 11 to 30 since 1976.

We also watch a video from King Charles, where he says that; “When I started the Trust in 1976, I could not possibly have realised the impact it would have” and that “he’s pleased and proud that the Trust’s work continues to go from strength to strength”.

During lunch, there is a silent auction, with prizes including a bedtime story with Tilda Swinton, with an opening price of £600, a limited-edition print by King Charles III starting at £5,000 and - possibly the most coveted - a FIFA World Cup 2026 Final Package For Two in New York/New Jersey. There are glamorous nights in various hotels, whisky packages and treats for fans of luxury cars. The champagne is still flowing freely, and I feel that some big bids will be made this afternoon.

As King’s Trust ambassador Brian McRitchie OBE says, all today’s glamorous treats, use of Gleneagles and the lots have been donated, so all the funds go back to the charity.

www.kingstrust.org.uk