Sir Anwar Pervez, founder of the Bestway Group, was hosted by Their Majesties HRH King Charles and Queen Camilla for tea in the Royal Box at Royal Ascot on 20 June, in celebration of his 90th birthday.
The royal invitation marked a moment of national recognition for Sir Anwar’s six-decade-long contribution to UK business and society. Having emigrated from Pakistan in 1956, Sir Anwar opened his first retail store in London in 1963 and went on to establish Bestway Group in 1976 – a company that has grown into one of the UK’s leading wholesalers and pharmacy operators.
The recognition comes just days after a special reception was held in Parliament to celebrate his life and legacy. The event was attended by MPs, peers and community leaders, highlighting Sir Anwar’s impact on British enterprise and his enduring support for marginalised communities.
Bestway Group’s Royal Ascot presence also included its annual charity race day, with this year’s proceeds supporting the British Asian Trust, an organisation founded by King Charles III in 2007 to promote development in South Asia. The charity was named the main beneficiary of the 2025 event.
Since founding the Bestway Foundation in 1987, Sir Anwar has donated more than £44 million to charitable causes in the UK, funding schools, universities, and hospitals. The foundation has worked closely with several Royal Charities including The Prince’s Trust, the Duke of Edinburgh Awards and the Pakistan Recovery Fund.