The late Queen Elizabeth II took a keen interest in the rise of conservative leader Charlie Kirk and his efforts to establish a youth movement in Britain, according to accounts from those close to the Turning Point founder.

Kirk, 31, who was assassinated last week during a speaking engagement at Utah Valley University, had developed close ties in the United Kingdom through businessman John Mappin, heir to the Mappin & Webb jewellery family.

Mappin, one of the original financial backers of Turning Point UK, says the Queen was privately briefed on Kirk's activities at Windsor Castle and expressed warm encouragement, according to London's Telegraph.

"Shortly before Charlie's arrival, our friends Lord and Lady Plunket co-hosted the Turning Point launch with us, and they briefed the late Queen and Prince Philip about what Charlie was doing," Mappin recalled.

"Prince Philip found it fascinating, while she just loved the idea that Charlie was bringing younger people back to the Church."

Mappin emphasized that Her late Majesty's interest was spiritual rather than political.

"As head of the Church of England, she appreciated Charlie's sincere love of Jesus Christ and his mission to remind young people of Christian values. She was very interested, encouraging and validating of what Charlie was doing," he said.

Turning Point UK launched in London in 2018 after Mappin persuaded Kirk to bring his brand of campus conservatism across the Atlantic.

Backed by figures including Nigel Farage, George Farmer, and Zac Goldsmith, the initiative quickly gained traction among students who felt, in Mappin's words, "fed up to the back teeth with what's going on in schools and universities."

For the Queen, the appeal lay in Kirk's religious convictions.

According to Mappin, she recognized in the young American a rare willingness to speak openly about faith at a time when church attendance in Britain was in long decline.

"She valued that commitment," he noted, adding that Kirk's open profession of Christianity was "refreshing" to those who met him.

Kirk's impact in Britain went beyond private royal interest.

His appearances at institutions such as the Cambridge Union drew packed halls and polarized reactions. Admirers described his speeches as "spiritual" in their effect; detractors saw them as provocative.

Yet his ability to energize young audiences ensured that Turning Point UK gained visibility well beyond its modest beginnings.

While she never strayed into political endorsement, those who knew the Queen well say she always paid close attention to movements that touched on faith, culture, and the future of the Church. Kirk's mission, they suggest, fit neatly into that realm.

The Queen's Christian faith was central to her life and reign, and many historians and clergy have described it as the quiet foundation of her sense of duty, service, and stability.

The Queen was open about her belief in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.

Throughout crises — from World War II, to family challenges, to the COVID-19 pandemic — she frequently referred to faith as her grounding.

Those close to her, such as former Archbishop of York John Sentamu, said she read the Bible daily and kept her prayer life deeply personal.

She was known to underline passages in her Bible and had a strong interest in Christian teaching and preaching.

Kirk's murder has shocked his friends on both sides of the Atlantic.

For Mappin, who shared dinners, holidays, and late-night phone calls with the activist, the tragedy has only underscored how far Kirk's influence had spread.

"The influence Charlie had in life has been amplified a thousand times now," he said.

A public memorial will be held for Kirk at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, on Sunday.

Thanks for the link. Did you know that everything from the ? in a long link is tracking code that can just be removed?

First they give money with no strings attached.

They they have reasonable requests.

Then they have un- reasonable requests.

Then they demand and threaten to cut off the money.......

Yes...a complex question, but in no way do I think Charlie was compromised and we know how evil some people are...

There is always going to be money behind guys like charlie. Thats how money picks its winners. God however doesnt need anything from the manipulators. Not all money comes from the elite.