Ant and Dec's Donnelly apologises to King Charles on behalf of McPartlin, who is 'at home breastfeeding'

The TV star was attending a reception hosted by the King which celebrated a group of young people who have turned their lives around with support from The Prince's Trust

Ant and Dec have sent their apologies to King Charles after missing a reception hosted by the monarch at Buckingham Palace on Thursday evening (June 22).

The presenting duo, who are known for their close friendship with the King, were unable to attend the event due to Dec welcoming his first child with wife Ali Astall earlier this month.

However, Dec's presenting partner Donnelly was able to make it to the reception, which celebrated a group of young people who have turned their lives around with support from The Prince's Trust.

Speaking to reporters after meeting the King, Donnelly said: "I passed on Ant’s apology that he couldn't be here today because he was at home breastfeeding."

He added with a laugh: "I don't know whether I broke royal protocol by giving that information."

Donnelly also commented on rumours that he is the godfather of Dec's newborn son, saying that he has not been formally asked yet but "everybody else has presumed".

The reception gave the King the chance to meet the winners at the Prince's Trust awards - and he chatted to recipients and celebrities who had presented the awards, including actor Martin Freeman, Pixie Lott and Ellie Simmonds.

Gesturing to the award winners, Donnelly added: "All the young people behind us here, some incredible stories again about people getting their life on track and making a real difference to their communities, and some incredible stories yet again."

Commenting on the King, who has recently returned to public-facing events following his cancer diagnosis, the celebrity said: "He looked really well today."

Donnelly added: "He was on good form, good spirits, always has a laugh and joke which is lovely, has a fantastic sense of humour and spent time with all the young people."

At the end of the reception Charles went out into the Palace's forecourt to see a pink rickshaw from India driven by a woman known as Arti, who won the Amal Clooney Women's Empowerment Award.

The King chatted to Arti, a single mother from India, who struggled to make a living but joined the trust's Project Lehar programme which helped build her skills and confidence and introduced her to the Indian government's pink rickshaw campaign, an initiative providing transport by women for women.