On Thursday, Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus received the King Charles III Harmony Award at the St James Palace in London. Photo: Collected

LONDON, June 13, 2025 (BSS) - Chief Adviser Professor Muhammad Yunus on Thursday received the King Charles III Harmony Award at the St James's Palace in London.

King Charles conferred the Harmony Award on Prof Yunus at a ceremony, Chief Adviser's Deputy Press Secretary Abul Kalam Azad Majumder told BSS.

The award recognised Prof Yunus's "unique contribution to ensuring harmonious coexistence between people, nature and the environment, bringing about positive changes in the lives of the marginalised communities and building a peaceful, harmonious and sustainable world".

"It is a wonderful prize," the Chief Adviser said, thanking His Majesty for standing by Bangladesh during this pivotal period in the country's history.

"This is a recognition of the work we have done to uplift vulnerable communities and reflect the values His Majesty The King also champions," the Chief Adviser said while receiving the award.

"That is a fantastic way to project what we stand for," Prof Yunus said, adding it will inspire young people in Bangladesh "to create a country they dream about."

Ahead of the Award Ceremony, His Majesty King Charles welcomed the Chief Adviser for a private audience at the Buckingham Palace.

During the half an hour long one-on-one meeting, they discussed issues of mutual interests.

In June 2024, King Charles launched a new set of awards celebrating living in harmony with nature.

The inaugural winner of the King Charles III Harmony Award was former UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon.

King Charles III Harmony Award is a special award given to an individual to recognise long-term outstanding commitment to, and support for, The King’s Harmony philosophy – which looks to prioritise sustainability and nature across all sectors.

Prof Yunus has spent his life promoting social business principles and encouraging sustainable, socially responsible projects, having a significant impact on poverty alleviation in Bangladesh and beyond, according to The King’s Foundation.

Established in 1990, The King’s Foundation, a UK-based charity founded by then Prince of Wales, bestows the prestigious award annually on individuals with exemplary achievements in sustainable development and humanitarian causes.