The King and Queen visit Middlesbrough
The Royals have been meeting with community organisations in the Boro today
Last updated 1st May 2025
The King and Queen have arrived in Middlesbrough to learn how the town is supporting its residents across a range of issues from mental health concerns to knife crime.
Charles and Camilla met a collection of charities and organisations from those supporting young people to a group from the King's Trust supporting an initiative to tackle violence involving blades.
During the 12 months to October 2024, a knife was involved in the killing of six people in Teesside, Cleveland Police stated on its website, and during the same period, there were 503 reports of violence with injury involving a blade.
Last November officers from Middlesbrough, and colleagues from other areas, carried out initiatives under Operation Sceptre, a national police campaign to tackle knife crime, with more than 110 weapons handed into surrender bins at four main police stations.
The King and Queen were welcomed to a community hub called the International Centre, the venue for the visit, by performers from North East Opera who sang Welcome, a song performed in multiple languages.
The Queen could not resist a game of ping-pong when she joined the King at a Middlesbrough community centre to learn about inspiring projects.
Charles and Camilla met a collection of charities and organisations, from those helping young people to a group from the King's Trust supporting an initiative to tackle violence involving blades.
But in a lighter moment the King's consort picked up a bat and ball and joined a group of teenagers having an impromptu match.
She is known to like a game of ping-pong and with her table-tennis partner Alesha Hussain, celebrating her 15th birthday on Thursday, took on 14-year-old Kaleb Autsun.
The Queen batted the ball across the net to the 14-year-old and a stop-start rally began with the ball quickly retrieved by helpful watchers whenever any of the players missed the table.
Alesha, who was representing a young carers' group, said afterwards: "She was good, I didn't know she liked table tennis.
"We just started playing and it was good fun.
"It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
Their opponent Kaleb was impressed with the opposition, saying: "It was nice, that was a new experience because I've never seen any of the royal family before."
Meanwhile, a proud Middlesbrough resident was introduced to the King and Queen as a unique treat on her 100th birthday today.
Rona Grafton, originally from Teesville, was hosted at MIMA before being introduced to Their Majesties as they finished their walk through Centre Square.
The special moment on Rona’s big day came about after staff from the Gables Care Home in Longlands contacted staff in Middlesbrough Council’s adult social care team.
Buckingham Palace kindly helped arrange for Rona to attend the celebration event to mark the Royal visit