LONDON, ENGLAND: George and Amal Clooney, who are known to be close friends with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, turned out in support of King Charles. This comes as the Duke and Duchess of Sussex don't appear even remotely interested in patching things up with the Royal Family.
However, Clooney, 62, and Amal, 45, made it clear they weren't taking sides after making an appearance at the Prince's Trust and TK Maxx & Homesense Awards 2023 in central London on Wednesday, May 17. The ceremony reportedly recognizes and rewards the achievements of young people across the UK who have completed the charity's programs.
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Clooney and Amal put on a chic display as he rocked a finely tailored gray suit and sunglasses while his wife oozed elegance in a cream jumpsuit as they made their way inside the event in Central London.
Both Clooney and Amal looked relaxed as they posed for the cameras on the red carpet.
The Clooneys are often regarded as part of the Sussexes' inner circle, having attended their royal wedding in 2018, albeit they reportedly admitted at the time they didn't know the couple well at the time. Regardless, they were given a "prime pew" for the ceremony.
Carolyn Bartholomew, a former flatmate of Princess Diana’s who reportedly sat next to Clooney and Amal for the service, asked them how they knew the royal couple. "We don't," they allegedly told Bartholomew, per Airmail. However, the 'Ocean's Eleven' star was also reported to have danced with both Meghan and Kate Middleton at a wedding afterparty at Frogmore House. The couples have apparently become closer ever since, and Amal was even invited to the Duchess' baby shower alongside a small group of friends in New York the following year.
According to the Sussexes' biography 'Finding Freedom', the Clooneys hosted Harry and Meghan on at least two occasions at their UK home in Sonning, Oxfordshire. The royal pair are said to have taken their dogs along and the Clooneys often took the guests down to the lake. "There, they had a secluded decked area, and inside was a lounge decorated with traditional club wood paneling, heavy drapes, dark velvets, plush chairs, and a bar," the book stated. Furthermore, the biography also claimed the Clooneys invited the royals to join them at Lake Como just weeks after the royal wedding, flying the couple out on Clooney's private jet.
"Meghan and Amal spent a lot of time relaxing by the pool and playing with the twins while George and Harry checked out George's motorbike collection during the three-day visit," sources said, adding, "Harry took one of them out with one of his protection officers. George recently had an accident, so he wasn't back on his bike yet.'' The book also claimed that Amal hired a private jet to fly Meghan home from her New York baby shower in February 2019. And in 2018, another insider told People, "Meghan and Amal have known each other for a while [and share] many interests," adding that the reputed barrister also helped the former actress settle into her London life.
Journalist Omid Scobie, who co-authored 'Finding Freedom', revealed in an interview with 'Good Morning America' that Harry and Clooney had bonded over their shared love for motorcycles and also played basketball together. In 2019, the 'Money Monster' star was asked how he knew the couple. "I’ve just known them," he told the Daily Mail at the time. "We live not too far from one another and we have dinners and stuff and we’re friends with them for all the reasons that you’re friends with anybody. They’re just really nice, fun, kind people, they’re a very loving couple, and they’re going to be great parents," he added.
