King Charles Says It Is Vital to Remember Past Evils as He Becomes First British Monarch to Visit Auschwitz
King Charles appeared emotional today as he joined world leaders in Polandto commemorate 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In what was the first visit by a British monarch to the site of the former Nazi concentration camp, the King joined other Heads of State placing a light in front of an empty train car in memory of the millions who lost their lives during the Holocaust.
Earlier in the day, the King gave an impassioned speech in which he emphasized the importance of remembering the evils of the past to shape our future.
“To be in Poland on International Holocaust Remembrance Day, as we commemorate eighty years since the liberation of Auschwitz, is both a sombre and indeed a sacred moment,” the King began in his address at the Jewish Community Centre in Krakow, where he met with Holocaust survivors. “It is a moment when we recall the six million Jews, old and young, who were systematically murdered, together with Sinti, Roma, disabled people, members of the L.G.B.T. community, political prisoners, and so many others upon whom the Nazis inflicted their violence and hatred. 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.”
The King spoke of “a world that remains full of turmoil and strife,” and “the dangerous re-emergence of antisemitism.” “The act of remembering the evils of the past remains a vital task and in so doing, we inform our present and shape our future,” he said.
During a two hour service held in front of The Gate of Death of Auschwitz-Birkenau, Holocaust survivors told their horrifying stories before world leaders and royals from across the world. Those in attendanceincluded Spain’s King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Belgium's King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, Norway's Crown Prince Haakon, Sweden's Crown Princess Victoria, Denmark's King Frederik and Queen Mary, and the Netherlands' King-Willem-Alexander, Queen Máxima, and Princess Catharina-Amalia. Around 50 survivors of the Holocaust, now in their 80s and 90s, were at the service.
King Charles was photographed looking emotional and wiping his eye as he listened. Afterwards, he passed through the ‘Arbeit Macht Frei’ gate for the first time to view the site, where he saw the permanent collection of personal items confiscated from victims when they entered the camp. He also laid a wreath at a reconstruction of The Death Wall, where several thousand people, mainly Polish political prisoners, were executed.
Watch video below.
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