King Charles launches new UK Space and Defence Gateway

King Charles on Friday visited Harwell Campus, a science and technology business park in Oxfordshire, and opened the new UK Space and Defence Gateway, during his second royal engagement of the day.

“His Majesty toured the world class facilities and equipment at RAL Space, the UK’s National Space Laboratory, before viewing a showcase of space technology,” said a statement issued by the royal family.

It said, ”The King launched the new Gateway at Harwell, which will be a dedicated hub for national and global collaboration that will shape tomorrow’s space and defence economy.”

During his visit, the Sustainable Markets Initiative, an organization launched by King Charles, announced a partnership with Harwell Campus to align with the principles of the Astra Carta, a global framework launched in 2023 by the monarch to encourage responsible and sustainable practices across the space industry.

“The partnership will bring together leaders from across the space ecosystem to accelerate collaboration, innovation, and investment in support of a more sustainable space economy,” the royal family said in a statement.

Earlier, it said King Charles visited the University of Oxford where he opened the Stephen A. Schwarzman Centre for Humanities.