Amongst the pod people: King Charles III at the British ambassador’s residence in Washington, D.C.

Pod Save the King!

King Charles III’s recent visit to the United States brought a new ritual to high-society gatherings and, with it, a fresh status anxiety

By Alyson Krueger

At exactly 5:15 p.m. on Wednesday, King Charles III and Queen Camilla entered Christie’s in Rockefeller Center for the reception portion of the King’s Trust Gala, the annual New York fundraiser for the youth charity he founded 50 years ago.

After being shown a signed letter George Washington sent to Thomas Jefferson discussing the U.S. Constitution—which to royal eyes must have read like a Dear John letter—and being greeted by the gala’s co-chairs, Lionel Richie and Charlotte Tilbury, a command rang through the room: “Everybody get in your place, please.”