In a Windsor Castle reception hosted by King Charles and Queen Camilla to honor carers, Sir Keir Starmer made a public appearance alongside the monarch for the first time since the Epstein documents release, underscoring ongoing fallout from Epstein-linked controversies.

The event spotlighted the diverse cast of attendees, including notable figures who highlighted the challenges carers face and the need for recognition and support for both unpaid and professional carers.

Starmer voiced gratitude to carers, linking his support to his sister who works with adults with Down syndrome, and argued that carers perform skilled, vital work worthy of high regard.

Colleagues like Rooney spoke about the demanding, around-the-clock nature of caring, emphasizing support for carers as a public priority.

Rooney has long supported care-related causes and has discussed her sister Rosie, who died in Rett syndrome, underscoring personal connections to the issue.

Official estimates note millions of carers in the UK, with a significant share providing extensive weekly hours and a female majority among unpaid carers.

The monarch emphasized that carers care out of compassion and highlighted isolation, exhaustion, and financial worries as major challenges.

Attendees including Coleen Rooney, Kate Garraway, and others drew attention to under-recognition and the financial and emotional strains faced by carers.

Public figures stressed the dual burden on families and the essential role of both unpaid and professional carers in society.

Starmer reiterated his personal connection to the sector, noting his sister’s work with adults with Down syndrome and asserting carers should be valued as highly as those in power.

The discussion framed carers as performing skilled, vital work that deserves public respect and recognition.

Garraway described the isolating nature of caregiving and the financial and emotional strain her family has faced, including the impact of her husband’s illness and death.