King Charles III made history today, January 27, 2025, as he is the first British Head of State to visit Auschwitz-Birkenau on its 80th anniversary.
King Charles Traveled To Poland To Mark The Milestone
Charles traveled to Poland on Holocaust Memorial Day to mark the milestone with other heads of state, presidents, monarchs, prime ministers, and Holocaust survivors.
An unspoken fact is that this anniversary is likely to be the last time those who were personally affected by the Holocaust, the victims, and survivors, would meet to share their testimonies.
Royal expert Robert Jobson called the King’s trek to Poland for the somber occasion “poignant, personal, and profound.”
More than six million people were murdered in concentration camps. Eighty years ago, they were liberated by Soviet troops.
The date is globally recognized as the commemoration of all victims of the Holocaust. Charles visited the Jewish Community Center and listened to testimonies from Holocaust survivors.
This morning, the King attended the official ceremony at Auschwitz. He is known for his deep spirituality and as an interfaith and community harmony campaigner.
His Majesty remembered the victims of the unspeakable violence of Hitler’s Nazi regime in a moving speech.
Prior to his address, Buckingham Palace explained that the theme of the King’s speech would be about
“how the testimony of survivors teaches us to cherish our freedom, to challenge prejudice, and never be a bystander in the face of violence and hate.”
In his speech, he said that the anniversary is a “timely reminder” of all the victims and survivors of the Holocaust.
The King said,
“It is a moment when we recall the depths to which humanity can sink when evil is allowed to flourish, ignored for too long by the world.”
Prince William And Princess Catherine Attended A Holocaust Ceremony In London
Charles cited the inspirational Holocaust survivor, Lily Ebert, who passed away last October, as an example of strength and courage.
He said,
“She collectively taught us to cherish our freedom, to challenge prejudice, and never be a bystander in the face of violence and hate.”
The one British Holocaust survivor in attendance, 94-year-old Mala Tribich, said,
“I come in the same way you go to a cemetery to pay your respects to your loved ones.”
She experienced the worst of genocide as several members of her family were killed at Auschwitz.
During Charles’s time in Poland, Prince William and Kate Middleton paid tribute to those who lost their lives at Auschwitz.
The ceremony was held at Guildhall. The couple said it was a “great honor” to attend. They met with a group of survivors who shared their stories with them.
One of the survivors knew Anne Frank and her family. His father was gassed for speaking out against the Nazis, and his mother did laundry for prisoners in exchange for a small ration of bread. She fed her children while she starved. He was only nine years old when he was held at Auschwitz.
During a speech, William talked about his great-grandmother, Princess Alice, who went to great lengths to help a Jewish family.
The Prince and Princess of Wales made it a point to say they intend to teach their children about the Holocaust.
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