PRINCE CHARLES has helped launch London Collections: Men, London’s first ever weekend of men’s-fashion-only catwalk shows, with a big bash at St James Palace.

Hundreds of fashion industry types suited-up for the royal event on Thursday night (14.06.12), including big names like Alexa Chung, Nicole Fahri, Tommy Hilfiger, Tinie Tempah, David Walliams and Dame Vivienne Westwood.

“I am finding it very hard, ladies and gentlemen, to live with myself after I discovered that somebody has suggested I might even be an icon of fashion,” joked the Prince of Wales in his speech to the smartly-turned out throng.

“It has taken 64 bleeding years.”

Charles, who wore a navy number by Savile Row tailors Anderson & Sheppard to the event, was recently named one of the most fashionable men in the world by GQ magazine, but the heir to the throne believes his new-found trendy status can be easily explained.

“I have gone on in my old way,” he said. “Like a stopped clock, I tell the right time every 25 years.”

GQ’s editor, Dylan Jones, is one of the people organising London Collections: Men. Others include David Furnish, Sir Elton John’s civil partner, American designer Tom Ford and Tinie Tempah.

London Collections: Men runs from today, Friday 15 June until Sunday 17 June.