Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Entertainment
Emma Wilson

Charlene White looks stunning as she heads to Buckingham Palace to celebrate Windrush 75

Loose Women star Charlene White looked stunning as she headed to Buckingham Palace to celebrate the Windrush 75.

King Charles hosted a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday to commemorate the 75th anniversary of the first arrivals of post-war migrants to Britain from the Caribbean, known as the Windrush generation.

In June 1948, a ship named Empire Windrush docked in London, bringing the first wave of people who relocated to the UK as part of the effort to help rebuild the country following the end of the Second World War.

Charlene, who has spoken previously about her family's involvement with Windrush, was invited to the star-studded reception on Wednesday, and looked incredible as she dressed up for the special occasion.

Wearing a gingham dress by Lisou, she teamed the outfit with a green bag and orange hair covering.

“Popped to the Palace yesterday afternoon to celebrate Windrush 75. And met some of the incredibly inspiring Windrush generation whose portraits will be hanging in the refurbished @nationalportraitgallery,” she wrote on Instagram.

Charlene looked stunning as she posed ahead of the royal bash (@charlenewhite/Instagram)
She rocked a gingham dress at the palace (@charlenewhite/Instagram)

The Loose Women star said she wore an outfit that was designed by Black British designers, and was a nod to the Windrush generation.

“For the event I wore green as a nod to Jamaica (obvs), and mostly Black British designers to celebrate the contribution immigrants and the children of immigrants have made to Britain,” Charlene wrote.

The slideshow of snaps shared on social media featured Charlene posing in front of the Buckingham Palace gates, as well as a glimpse of her elegant invitation.

Charlene has previously spoken out about the Windrush scandal, after thousands of people who had arrived in the UK in the first wave of arrivals were deported as part of the government's immigration policy.

She said her auntie, who had worked in the NHS for years, went on holiday to Jamaica and wasn't allowed back in on her return to the UK.

In an emotional speech during an episode of Loose Women, she said: "My aunt died in Jamaica before she could come back here. She had a house here, she had a life here and wasn’t allowed to come back in, all before she didn’t fill in a form, but when she arrived here, she was a British citizen due to the British Empire."

She shared a snap of her exclusive invitation (@charlenewhite/Instagram)
Charlene posed with her pal Nadine (@charlenewhite/Instagram)

She attended the royal event with fellow invitee journalist Nadine White, and was overwhelmed with supportive comments on her post.

“Oh this look IS A MOMENT,” one wrote.

“Oohh laaaa laaahhhh vibes,” another added, as one follower simply commented: “Just fabulous!”

During the reception, King Charles and his wife Camilla unveiled 10 portraits of veteran Windrush “elders”, which were commissioned by the royal last year.

The monarch has previously paid tribute to the vital and essential impact the Windrush generation had on the country, and last year, he unveiled a national monument to the migrants at Waterloo Station in London, alongside his son Prince William.

  • An earlier version of this story said Nadine White attended as Charlene White's guest. We are happy to clarify that Nadine White was invited by the King and Queen as a guest in her own right.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.