The King has made his first appearance at an official event since the Duke and Duchess of Sussex returned to the UK with their children.

Charles celebrated the 125th anniversary of the Victoria League for Commonwealth Friendship at a garden party staged in the grounds of a hostel run by the charity for students from the “family of nations”.

Harry and Meghan flew to the UK last Wednesday with Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet on a private plane from California, landing at Birmingham Airport.

The couple are reportedly staying at a countryside retreat and are said to have barely left their new home since jetting in from the US, with rumours swirling about how long they will stay and possible filming opportunities for Meghan.

Charles met the Sussexes and their children at his Highgrove home in the summer before their surprise return to the UK, an encounter said to have influenced their decision to find a home in England.

During the garden party in Bayswater, west London, the King chatted to students living at the hostel and the grey skies threatened rain but it was a wasp that proved troublesome, flying around Charles’ head until a protection officer batted it away.

The King’s visit comes ahead of his trip to Antigua and Barbuda for a Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in November in his role as head of the Commonwealth.

John Steel, chairman of trustees of the league, which promotes friendship and hospitality across Commonwealth nations, said to the King in his speech to the gathered guests: “Your leadership of the Commonwealth we consider to be of incredible importance.

“So do all the nations of the Commonwealth.”

Charles, patron of the league, unveiled a plaque to mark his visit and laughed off a mishap when it tumbled to the ground as he removed a cloth covering.

Later, Charles spoke about his hopes of returning to Pakistan when he hosted the country’s cricket squad and officials at Clarence House ahead of their third and final test match against England.

The team has lost the three-match series after being comprehensively beaten in two tests by their hosts and at the weekend dropped a string of players.

Referencing the 80th anniversary of Pakistan, celebrated next year, the monarch, who turns 78 in November, told a group of players “I’m almost the same age as Pakistan.”

Touching his chest, he referred to the year he was born “1948” and said “so I have an interest”.

Charles, who visited Pakistan in 2006, later told other cricketers “I hope I get to Pakistan before I’m too old – so many places I want to go.”