You are truly the Pride of Britain KING CHARLES III

For 46 years, the King has been changing the lives of disadvantaged young people through his charity The Prince’s Trust.

- NATASHA WYNARCZYK and JEREMY ARMSTRONG

 It has helped more than a million people, which is a wonderful achievement, but at the Mirror’s Pride of Britain Awards, with TSB, it was his turn to pay homage.

In particular, the King wanted to hail Alex Anderson, a winner who has reached for the sky.

Alex, 22, won this year’s Prince’s Trust Young Achiever award after becoming one of the first people with Asperger’s syndrome to join the Royal Air Force. He has also done 1,000 hours of volunteering work.

After being presented with his award by Hollywood star Idris Elba, who himself was helped by The Prince’s Trust, there was a second shock for Alex when a letter from the King was read out by the actor.

The monarch said of Alex: “His is an inspirational story of triumph over adversity that shows how tenacity, courage and hard work can make even the most impossible dream come true. That he has done so in the face of so many obstacles is all the more commendable.

“I am enormously proud of the part The Prince’s Trust has played in helping him achieve his ambition to serve our nation.”