King Charles III visited a charity which tackles food poverty and food waste today.
His Majesty was joined by London mayor Sadiq Khan as they toured round the Poplar depot of The Felix Project on February 22.
The charity, in a partnership with The Prince of Wales's Charitable Fund, recently received a starter fund of £1 million, including a personal donation from the King.
The fund is being used to supply more than 800 fridges and freezers to organisations across the UK to help store more fresh and frozen food.
During the visit, the King unveiled one of these freezers, destined for Hackney City Farm who will distribute the produce to its partners to feed hundreds of people a week.
READ MORE: Gangs of London actors join teenagers volunteering at east London community scheme
The King appeared impressed by the work of full-time chefs and volunteer caterers creating meals from whatever produce was donated that day.
He chatted to sous chef Ali Shanavas, who was helping to cut up a batch of broccolis, courgettes and bok choy, a type of Chinese cabbage.
The staff member said: "The King wanted to know where the food was from and what we were going to do with the food.
"There was a funny moment when he pointed to the bok choy - he knew what it was but forgot what it was called."
Watching the chefs preparing huge quantities of lentil and vegetable tagine appeared to tingle the royal taste buds.
Kitchen manager Nick Kerle said afterwards: "When we told him about the tagine, he said 'that sounds amazing' and asked for the recipe.
"It includes red lentils, kidney beans, carrots, peppers, courgettes and fresh tomatoes, along with a large amount of spices like cumin, turmeric and chilli power."
The King said in a private ceremony in front of The Felix Project supporters: "Before I go, I must just say what a remarkable organisation The Felix Project is and I just wanted to join in thanking them, and congratulating them, on the remarkable differences they are making all around this country – you’re setting a fantastic example.
"And above all it’s a wonderful example of volunteering as well at its best."
The organisation, which distributes surplus supermarket food, works to tackle both food waste and food poverty.
Its kitchen makes between 3,500 and 5,000 meals every day, ranging from chicken curry and rice to lentil bake and mashed potatoes.
More than 2 million meals have been distributed so far to organisations which either help people with no access to cooking facilities, or provide meals but do not have the catering facilities to feed everyone using their service.
Camilla, Queen Consort pulled out of the visit which she had planned to attend, after testing positive for Covid-19 nine days ago.
Justin Byam Shaw, who founded The Felix Project in 2016, explained: "The cost-of-living crisis means increasing numbers of people simply cannot afford to feed their families.
"Many of the organisations we supply are seeing the demand for their services more than double and all of them need more food from us."
Reporting by PA.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here