King Charles and Queen Camilla have personally met with Holocaust survivors and participated in a poignant candle lighting ceremony to commemorate Holocaust Memorial Day. The solemn event, held at Buckingham Palace, marked the anniversary of the liberation of the Auschwitz-Birkenau concentration camp in 1945.
Portraits of Survival and Remembrance
During the reception, King Charles viewed a series of seven powerful portraits depicting Holocaust survivors. These artworks were commissioned by the King when he was the Prince of Wales, created by artist Paul Benney. Among those honoured was 98-year-old Helen Aronson, who was one of only approximately 750 individuals liberated from the Lodz Ghetto in Poland, from an original population of 250,000 people sent there.
Ms Aronson, who was just twelve years old when German forces arrived at her family home, described her portrait as "wonderful" to the King. She survived alongside her mother and brother, but tragically lost her father at the Chelmno extermination camp.
Remembering Those Lost
The event also paid tribute to survivors who have since passed away. Lu Lawrence, daughter of survivor Zigi Shipper, expressed her wish that her father could have witnessed his portrait being displayed. King Charles responded compassionately, stating "They are in spirit" regarding those no longer present.
Mr Shipper, who died in 2023 at age 93, endured multiple camps including the Lodz ghetto, Auschwitz-Birkenau, and Stutthof concentration camp, before surviving a death march with the assistance of fellow survivor Manfred Goldberg, who was also honoured with a portrait.
Personal Connections and Family Legacies
The King met several family members of survivors, including Mr Shipper's great-grandson, two-year-old Zigi Harrod, who is named after his ancestor. The young boy showed the King his toy monkey named Fergus during their interaction.
Centenarian Anita Lasker-Wallfisch, the last surviving member of the Women's Orchestra of Auschwitz where she played cello, also attended. King Charles remarked she was "wonderful" for coming to see her portrait. The monarch recalled their twenty-year acquaintance, noting their shared musical background.
Ms Lasker-Wallfisch's daughter, Maya, told the King that his visit to their London home for her mother's 100th birthday celebration last summer represented "the highlight" of their family celebrations, describing it as "so intimate and memorable."
Symbolic Acts of Remembrance
The royal couple were shown a painting titled "Anne Frank: Resistance" by Nicola Cobbold, chairwoman of the Anne Frank Trust UK. This collage artwork featured excerpts from Frank's famous diary.
In a particularly moving moment, survivor Rachel Levy presented King Charles and Queen Camilla with taper candles. They proceeded to light candles from the Holocaust Memorial Trust, creating a powerful symbol of remembrance and hope for future generations.
Ms Levy, who survived both Auschwitz-Birkenau and Bergen-Belsen concentration camps, eventually rebuilt her life in London after initially moving to Northern Ireland following the war.
Engagement with Youth and Charity Representatives
During the reception, the King and Queen spoke with youth ambassadors and charity workers including Holocaust Memorial Day Trust chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman and its chairman Sir Sajid Javid. Queen Camilla also conversed with survivors including Arek Hersh, a 97-year-old Leeds resident.
Mr Hersh's harrowing journey included survival of the Lodz Ghetto, agricultural labour at Auschwitz-Birkenau, a death march to Buchenwald, and eventual liberation at Terezin. He arrived in Britain in 1945 as one of the child survivors of the Holocaust.
The event at Buckingham Palace served as a profound reminder of the importance of preserving Holocaust testimony and honouring those who endured unimaginable suffering during one of history's darkest chapters.
