King and Queen meet Holocaust survivors at Buckingham Palace

King and Queen meet Holocaust survivors at Buckingham Palace

King Charles III and Queen Camilla gathered with Holocaust survivors at Buckingham Palace to commemorate the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. Among the guests were notable figures such as Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, aged 100, and Helen Aronson, who is 98. These survivors have been recognized for their efforts to promote Holocaust awareness, and a series of portraits honoring their contributions were commissioned by the King. During the event, King Charles acknowledged those survivors who have passed, saying they were present “in spirit” during the remembrance.

On the same day, Mala Tribich made history by becoming the first Holocaust survivor to speak before the UK Cabinet. Addressing the government ministers, she urged them to actively combat antisemitism in the present day, emphasizing the seriousness of contemporary incidents. Tribich, a survivor of the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp and an MBE recipient for her educational work, implored the officials to not merely remember the past but to take tangible action against the rising hatred.

Holocaust Memorial Day, observed annually on 27 January, honors the memory of the six million Jews murdered during World War II. It also pays tribute to countless others persecuted and killed by the Nazis, as well as victims of more recent genocides. To mark this solemn anniversary, survivors and their families were invited to Buckingham Palace, including relatives of Zigi Shipper, who survived multiple concentration camps before passing away in 2023. Shipper’s family expressed their gratitude upon seeing his commemorative portrait, with King Charles offering comforting words that he was present “in spirit.”

Later in the day, the national ceremony took place, where survivors lit candles and speakers—including prominent religious leaders—reflected on the ongoing impact of prejudice. Various UK landmarks, such as the Houses of Parliament and Edinburgh Castle, were illuminated in purple for the “Light the Darkness” campaign. The Prince and Princess of Wales participated by lighting a candle, highlighting the theme of this year’s Holocaust Memorial Day: “Bridging Generations.” This theme underscores the importance of preserving survivor testimonies to ensure that the lessons of the Holocaust remain vivid. Despite these efforts, survivors like Dr Marcel Ladenheim shared concerns about ongoing antisemitism, noting the continuing need for security at Jewish venues and expressing worry for future generations amid rising hostility

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