A Holocaust survivor told Prince William today that she misses the Princess of Wales “so much” as he made his first public appearance since pulling out of the memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine II of Greece.
The Prince of Wales visited the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London to take part in discussions about the rise of anti-Semitism in Britain – as the Princess of Wales continues to recover after abdominal surgery last month.
He received a bouquet of flowers for Kate while standing with Rabbi Daniel Epstein, who has led the Marble Arch synagogue with his wife Illana since 2021.
William then met Renee Salt, two Holocaust survivors, as well as young people who have taken part in the Holocaust Educational Trust’s flagship project ‘Lessons from Auschwitz’.
Mrs Salt, 94, told William: ‘I’m sorry, I’m sure if your wife had been well she would have been here. I miss her so much. Please give her my best wishes.”
Prince William receives a bouquet of flowers for his wife Catherine, Princess of Wales, during his visit to the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in London
She talked about her experiences in a Nazi concentration camp, prompting William to ask, “How did you do it?”
She replied, “It wasn’t easy. Somehow I survived.” William reached out and held her hand as she described how her family has been affected by the rise of anti-Semitism in recent months.
William told her: ‘I’m so sorry it’s gotten to this stage, it will get better.’
Earlier he had told the synagogue students: ‘Anti-Semitism has no place in society. Prejudices have no place in society. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I want you all to know that you can talk about it and your experiences.
“Both Catherine and I are extremely concerned about the rise of anti-Semitism that you have spoken about this morning and I am deeply sorry if any of you have had to experience that.
“There’s no place for that… that’s why I’m here today to reassure you that people do care and people are listening, and we can’t let that go.”
The engagement was originally due to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day last month and the Princess of Wales was also due to attend.
The event had to be postponed due to the princess’s length of stay in hospital.
Prince William meets Holocaust survivor Renee Salt, 94, at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue
Ms Salt said she misses Kate ‘so much’ as she told him of her fears about the rise of anti-Semitism
Prince William wears a yarmulke as he visits the Western Marble Arch Synagogue
The Prince of Wales today made his first public appearance since withdrawing from the memorial service for his godfather, the late King Constantine II of Greece
Prince William visited the Western Marble Arch Synagogue in central London to take part in discussions about the rise of anti-Semitism in Britain
The Lessons from Auschwitz project is helping young people across Britain learn about the history of the Holocaust.
They are taken on visits to the site of the former Auschwitz-Birkenau extermination camp, where more than a million Jews were murdered by the Nazis.
Karen Pollock CBE, Chief Executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust said: ‘Today His Royal Highness reminded us that antisemitism is not just a problem for the Jewish community, but for society as a whole.
‘He listened to young Jewish students who are facing an outpouring of anti-Semitic hatred on campus, sharing their personal experiences of this anti-Jewish hatred, and he met young ambassadors from the Holocaust Educational Trust, who are campaigning against anti-Semitism despite that they themselves are not Jewish.
“He spent time with Holocaust survivor Renee Salt BEM. When she was liberated almost eighty years ago, she could never have imagined that another global explosion of anti-Semitism would occur in her lifetime.
The visit of ‘His Royal Highness’ sends a strong message that Britain is a country where Jews – whether Holocaust survivors who came to seek refuge or young Jewish students – are welcome and celebrated.
“He reminds us that even in the darkest days, the Jewish community is not alone.
“We thank His Royal Highness for his leadership on this issue and we are so grateful for his continued support for our cause and our community.”
Crown Prince Pavlos, 56, the current head of the former Greek royal family, gave a lecture this week at St George’s Chapel, Windsor, in place of William, after the prince withdrew at 45 minutes’ notice due to what Kensington Palace said only but would describe as ‘personal reasons’.
The Prince of Wales was due to read Revelation 21:1-7, a popular Bible verse for funerals, but instead a moved Pavlos stood up and said: ‘God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death, mourning, crying or pain, for the old order of things is gone.”
Prince William speaks with Renee Salt, 94, a Holocaust survivor, at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue
Rabbi Daniel Epstein shows Britain’s Prince William a 17th century Torah scroll as he visits the Western Marble Arch Synagogue
Prince William is greeted today by Rabbi Daniel Epstein and his wife Illana
The official YouTube film from St George’s Chapel, where Elizabeth II was buried in September 2022, also showed the poignant moment Queen Camilla rose to sing the national anthem while her husband was absent as he battles cancer.
Earlier in the service, she appeared to be wiping away a tear at one point.
Charles III would have been there to lead the royal family but is being treated in hospital and has therefore taken a complete break from his royal duties.
Buckingham Palace has said his cancer was detected early and that His Majesty is ‘completely positive’.
On the same day as the memorial service, it emerged that Thomas Kingston had died.
The sudden death of the son-in-law of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent has left the royal family and friends in deep shock. But this was not the reason for Willem’s absence, as it turned out.
The late Constantine II was William’s godfather, close to the Queen and a dear friend and sailing partner of Prince Philip.
Queen Camilla was instead the eldest member of the royal family in attendance – with Prince Andrew also playing a prominent role as he led other royals on foot to the service at St. George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle.
No further details have been given about William’s absence, and it is not known whether this is related to the recovery of his wife, the Princess of Wales, following her abdominal surgery last month, although royal sources insisted that all was still “well” at home ‘ went with her.
William, pictured on February 20, said he missed the service at St George’s Chapel for ‘personal reasons’ but no further details were given
The king has been seen attending church every Sunday at Sandringham, but public duties were suspended
William was last seen at the Baftas on February 18, while Kate hasn’t been seen at Sandringham since Christmas.
Kate will stay away from official royal engagements until after Easter following her surgery.
As for Charles, he was at Windsor Castle earlier in the day but left before the service started – with the reception afterwards hosted by Camilla.
The king was later photographed waving as he was driven into Clarence House, his London residence.
Meanwhile, Andrew was front and center with Sarah, Duchess of York and his daughter Princesses Beatrice – along with her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi – as it was considered a personal family event.
It is also believed that the Duke of York attended the service as a member of the British Royal Family and was invited by the Greek Royal Family. Andrew’s other daughter, Princess Eugenie, was not present.
Since Charles performed no public duties, Camilla has become the main royal performer.