The Real Reason Katy Perry Will Be Eating Curry With Prince Charles

Their friendship might seem odd: the Prince of Wales, heir to the British throne, and a "California Gurl" who sings about wearing Daisy Dukes and a bikini top. But Prince Charles and Katy Perry have indeed formed a bond over a common interest: the well-being of the people of South Asia, particularly women and children.

Charles and Perry are both participating in the Big Curry Night In, a fundraiser for the prince's charity, the British Asian Trust (via People). Charles named Perry as an ambassador of the trust a year ago, shortly after the two met in India at a party celebrating Charles' birthday (via Vanity Fair). Some observers didn't like the choice of Perry as a representative for a South Asian cause, especially since in the past, she has been accused of adopting cultural stereotypes in her performances (via NBC News). She even married British comic Russell Brand in a traditional ceremony in India in 2010 (via The Economic Times). (Brand was a practicing Hare Krishna, according to Times of India, so there's that.) When Perry was named a British Asian Trust ambassador in February 2020, she said on Twitter at the time that she had a "magnetic connection" with India.

Katy Perry is no stranger to international charitable causes, after all. She has been a goodwill ambassador for UNICEF since 2013, supporting their efforts against child labor, according to Vanity Fair. In her more recent role with the British Asian Trust, Perry is working with the organization's Children's Protection Fund, which combats child labor in addition to human trafficking.

Funds raised during the United Kingdom's Big Curry Night In, March 5-14, will support the trust's work to lift South Asian women and girls out of poverty (via People). In a video appeal available on YouTube, Prince Charles said South Asian women are at increased risk of falling into poverty this year due to the economic disruptions caused by COVID-19. People in the UK can participate in the Big Curry Night In by making their own curry at home, or by supporting local restaurants and ordering takeout. People are also encouraged to make a contribution to the British Asian Trust at the same time, of course.

As an incentive, participants in the Big Curry Night In can enter a drawing to have Perry or another celebrity ambassador join them for curry night over a video call. The other celebrities involved are more obvious choices: Pakistani musician Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, British television personality Konnie Huq, English cricket star Jos Buttler, British comedian Sanjeev Bhaskar, and British-Pakistani DJ Naughty Boy (via British Asian Trust).