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Prince & Princess of Wales

The Prince and Princess of Wales spend Holocaust Memorial Day with survivors

The Prince and Princess of Wales met some of those who survived Nazi death camps as they took part in a Holocaust Memorial Day ceremony in London.

In a speech, Prince William touched on the importance of remembering the crucial role that survivors have played. He said ”We also remember those survivors who have lived with scars, both mental and physical. Their bravery, in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives, is extremely powerful and ensures that we never forget. I assure them we never will. 

The event at the Guildhall in London began with the Prince and Princess meeting survivors and hearing their stories. The Princess hugged several of them as they shared their experiences.

Catherine was able to reconnect with two Holocaust survivors, Steven Frank and Yvonne Berstein. She photographed them with their grandchildren in 2020 and chatted with them again at the Holocaust Memorial Day event.

The Prince and Princess of Wales also lit candles in memory of the six million Jewish people and thousands of Roma as well as members of the LGBQT community and disabled people who were killed in concentration camps.

Also in attendance was Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer.

In a purposeful choice, Her Royal Highness wore jewellery belonging to Queen Elizabeth II. She chose pearl earrings that Her Late Majesty often wore in a nod to the wartime princess who was at the side of her father, King George VI, and his Prime Minister, Winston Churchill, as the full horrors of the Second World War became clear.

Holocaust Memorial Day is held on January 27th, the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz. This year marks 80 years since the liberation.

King Charles attended a memorial service at Auschwitz. The ceremony was held outside the camp gates. Later, His Majesty visited the camp itself and laid a wreath at the death wall where thousands of people, including Poles who were sent to Auschwitz because of their nationality, were executed.

The King looked visibly moved as he bowed his head in reflection and then looked on in contemplation for several minutes, apparently unable to move away from the place where so many lost their lives.

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Historian and blogger at AnHistorianAboutTown.com