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A star-studded royal tribute lights up Manhattan as Jamie Dimon honors King Charles III inside JPMorgan’s new $3B headquarters.
A Union Jack–lit Manhattan skyscraper, British nobility, celebrities, and JPMorgan’s top brass come together for an unexpected royal birthday tribute.
In a scene more reminiscent of London’s Mayfair than Midtown Manhattan, JPMorgan Chase CEO Jamie Dimon hosted an extravagant birthday celebration for King Charles III inside the bank’s brand-new $3 billion headquarters. Though the monarch himself remained in the UK, recovering from recent health challenges including a cancer diagnosis, the spirit of British royalty permeated every corner of the event.
The towering Norman Foster–designed skyscraper beamed a massive Union Jack across its exterior, setting the tone for one of the most surprising and glamorous corporate events of the year.
More than 400 guests—including British Consulate members, actor Brian Cox, former UK Prime Minister Tony Blair, and reality stars Ubah Hassan and Mary Holland Nader—gathered to honor the King’s 77th birthday. Attendees began the night with an unexpected cheer for President Trump before echoing the traditional “Long live the King,” as reported by The Wall Street Journal.
Inside, classic British dishes such as Yorkshire pudding, beef pie with Stilton, and other nostalgic favorites were served beside sushi stations for the less adventurous. The venue was adorned with portraits of the royal family, Ronald Reagan, and Donald Trump—adding to the eclectic transatlantic ambiance.
A long-time history enthusiast, Dimon used the moment to highlight the importance of the US–Europe alliance, thanking the British for their historical role in countering Nazism. But his seriousness was balanced by wit, reminding guests that, “There’s a whiskey bar back there—thank God, mostly Scottish whiskey.”
The evening further cemented Dimon’s growing ties with European leadership, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s government and France’s Emmanuel Macron. Dimon famously met King Charles during the 2023 Global Investment Summit in London.
Not every moment dazzled. Varun Chandra, a senior adviser to PM Starmer, delivered a speech filled with “very cringeworthy” jokes about British vs. American culture—pronouncing “zed” vs. “zee,” and Americans’ loose grasp of “football.” As one guest said, “Nobody laughed. Everyone was just waiting for him to finish.”
Dimon, however, remained the evening’s magnetic figure. Guests lined up for photos, and the CEO stayed more than two hours after most executives had departed—whiskey in hand, soaking in the Anglo-American festivities.
Speakers openly acknowledged the event’s irony: a lavish birthday party for the British monarch held in a country preparing to celebrate 250 years of independence from that same monarchy. Yet, JPMorgan’s roots run deep into British history. Founder J. Pierpont Morgan descended from English merchants, and his son, Jack Morgan, was once close friends with King George VI—King Charles’ grandfather.
Chandra summed up the paradox: “Here we stand in this temple of American freedom and prosperity to celebrate the birthday of the British monarch.”
From nobles in kilts to skyscrapers glowing with the Union Jack, the evening was a symbolic blend of heritage and modern diplomacy. It was also a nod to history: New York itself was once named in honor of royalty, after King Charles II gifted the territory to his brother, the Duke of York.
For Dimon and his transatlantic guests, it was more than a party—it was a celebration of history, partnership, and the evolving ties between the US and the UK, illuminated high above the streets of Manhattan.
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