Founded in 1982, the newspaper is the only national black newspaper operating in the UK.
Prince Charles called the publication “crucial” before adding that he was “so touched” to be asked to edit the special edition.
“Over the past four decades, with all the huge changes they have witnessed, Britain’s only surviving black newspaper has become an institution and a crucial part of the fabric of our society,” Charles said.
Clarence House said Charles’ number “addresses themes such as community cohesion, education, climate, the Commonwealth, faith and the arts”.
Elba, star of hit TV shows ‘Luther’ and ‘The Wire’, reflects on how a grant from the Prince’s Trust at the age of 16 ‘opened doors that changed my life’ and discusses the importance of supporting young people.
Lawrence reveals a new partnership between the Stephen Lawrence Day Foundation and the Prince’s Foundation, which aims to provide applied arts scholarships to young people from diverse backgrounds impacted by social and economic inequality.
Booker Prize-winning author Bernardine Evaristo is also interviewed for the issue, discussing her career, her role as President of the Royal Society of Literature and her support for the Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room, a literary initiative launched during the coronavirus pandemic that provides an online space for book lovers to connect.
Paulette Simpson, the newspaper’s editor, described the publication as “a unique record of the lives of black Britons” which “will be an historic record for generations to come”. She added that Charles’ writing reflects the newspaper’s efforts over the past four decades to create a more inclusive society.
“I hope this will be an example for others to work together to create positive change for our country,” she said.
Lester Holloway, the publication’s editor, added: “Our readers might be surprised at the parallels between the issues The Voice has campaigned on for four decades and the work the Prince of Wales has been involved in during the same period, often behind the scenes.
“In recent decades, these causes were once looked down upon and ridiculed, but today they are widely recognized,” he continued. “Yet all the research tells us how far we need to go to be a truly egalitarian society. The Prince is aware of this, and that in itself is cause for hope.”
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