King Charles meets the Chief Rabbi at Buckingham Palace after …

King Charles meets the Chief Rabbi at Buckingham Palace after condemning 'barbaric acts of terrorism' by Hamas in Israel

Published: 15:40, 12 October 2023 | Updated: 16:14, 12 October 2023

The King today held talks with the Chief Rabbi in a private audience at Buckingham Palace [2] after expressing his concern at the 'barbaric acts of terrorism' in Israel.

Charles welcomed Sir Ephraim Mirvis to the London [3] royal residence this afternoon, meeting in the King's audience room to discuss the horrors of the Hamas [4] attacks.

It follows Charles' condemnation of Hamas in a statement yesterday [5], with royal aides saying the monarch is being actively updated on developments in the region.

Palace sources said Charles today personally expressed his deep care and concern for the Jewish community in the UK who are suffering grief, fear and anguish.

The King, 74, and Sir Ephraim, 67, are also understood to have discussed ways to support interfaith harmony in Britain in distressing and dangerous times, and the continued hope that a path to peace can be found internationally.

The Chief Rabbi later thanked Charles for his supportive words for the Jewish community.

King Charles II receives Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis at Buckingham Palace in London today

King Charles III and Sir Ephraim Mirvis speak at Buckingham Palace today about the conflict

After the meeting, Sir Ephraim posted on X, formerly known as Twitter: 'At a time when Jews around the world are grieving following the unspeakable evil perpetrated against loved ones in Israel, I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III [6] for expressing in person his deep concern, and his support for the Jewish community.

'His words of comfort and solidarity give us strength at this dark time.'

The King also spoke to Israeli President Isaac Herzog by telephone yesterday, offering his thoughts and prayers to all those suffering.

At least 100 people - reservists and active duty soldiers in the Israel Defence Forces - are believed to have travelled from the UK to Israel to serve in the Israeli military as it mounts a retaliatory campaign against Hamas.

Concerns remain high for the safety of British citizens in the region as the war, ignited by a bloody and wide-ranging Hamas attack on Israel at the weekend, has already claimed at least 2,600 lives.

The Government has organised flights to fly British nationals out of Israel, with the first flight set to leave Tel Aviv today.

Charles, head of the Church of England, greeted the Chief Rabbi in the King's Audience Room at the Palace.

The pair were pictured looking solemn as they stood side by side, and with the King gesturing as he welcomed Sir Ephraim to the meeting amid difficult times.

The pair have met previously through Charles' work as the Prince of Wales on interfaith tolerance, and Sir Ephraim took part in the King's coronation in May, greeting him in unison with faith leaders at the end of the service.

Charles visits the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem during a royal visit on January 24, 2020

William stands in the Mount of Olives overlooking the Old City in Jerusalem on June 28, 2018

Sir Ephraim is the 11th Chief Rabbi of the United Hebrew Congregations of the Commonwealth since the office was introduced in 1704.

He is traditionally seen as the figurehead of British Jews, but is only officially representative of the United Synagogue, the biggest wing of orthodox Judaism in the UK.

He was installed in September 2013 during a ceremony attended by Charles when he was Prince of Wales, the first time a member of the royal family was present.

Meanwhile, following the attacks on Israel, Charles has also spoken with King Abdullah of Jordan, whose nation shares a border with the West Bank and is home to a large number of Palestinian refugees.

King Abdullah has been striving to de-escalate the situation.

Charles, who long campaigned on interfaith tolerance as the Prince of Wales, is said to be continuing to seek ways to do so amid the growing conflict.

Yesterday, a Buckingham Palace spokesman said: 'This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about and he has asked to be kept actively updated.

'His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.'

A man shouts outside a burning collapsed building following Israeli bombardment in Gaza City

An Israeli army self-propelled howitzer fires rounds near the Gaza border in southern Israel

He added: 'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.'

Charles, as the Prince of Wales, carried out his first official tour of Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories in 2020.

What have Royal Family members said about the attack on Israel?

KING CHARLES

Issued by Buckingham Palace at 2.50pm yesterday:

'This is a situation His Majesty is extremely concerned about, and he has asked to be kept actively updated.

'His thoughts and prayers are with all of those suffering, particularly those who have lost loved ones, but also those actively involved as we speak.'

'His Majesty is appalled by and condemns the barbaric acts of terrorism in Israel.'

PRINCE WILLIAM AND KATE MIDDLETON

Issued by Kensington Palace at 5.55pm yesterday:

'The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.

'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them.

'As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.

'Their Royal Highnesses hold all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds.

'Those The Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope - that of a better future.

In the midst of such terrible suffering, The Prince and Princess continue to share that hope without reservation.'

PRINCE HARRY AND MEGHAN MARKLE

Issued by Archewell Foundation at an unconfirmed time last night, revealed by Omid Scobie at 8.40am today:

'At The Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

'We are supporting our partners and organisations on the frontlines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.'

It was the highest-level visit by a member of the monarchy to Israel and the Palestinian areas.

He visited the grave of his grandmother Princess Alice, who was famed for offering refuge to Jewish people during the Second World War in Nazi-occupied Athens.

Her bravery was recognised by Israel, which in 1993 posthumously bestowed the title of Righteous Among The Nations on her.

The princess - who was the mother of Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh - is buried at the Church of St Mary Magdalene in Jerusalem.

Prince William also travelled there in 2018, and he and Kate have signified their hopes of peace in the future.

Kensington Palace shared William and Kate's reaction to the attacks yesterday, saying: 'The Prince and Princess of Wales are profoundly distressed by the devastating events that have unfolded in the past days.

'The horrors inflicted by Hamas's terrorist attack upon Israel are appalling; they utterly condemn them.'

They added that the couple were holding 'all the victims, their families and their friends in their hearts and minds'.

The spokesperson added: 'Those the Prince of Wales met in 2018 overwhelmingly shared a common hope - that of a better future.

'In the midst of such terrible suffering, the prince and princess continue to share that hope without reservation.'

They also expressed sympathy for both Israelis and Palestinians, with the spokesperson saying: 'As Israel exercises its right of self defence, all Israelis and Palestinians will continue to be stalked by grief, fear and anger in the time to come.'

William met separately five years ago with both the then-Israeli president Reuven Rivlin and the Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas.

He was urged by Mr Rivlin to take a 'message of peace' to Mr Abbas to encourage him to take the 'first step' to end the 'tragedy' between their people.

Meanwhile, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex have condemned 'all acts of terrorism and brutality' and pledged to support efforts to send urgent aid to the region amid the war.

Under the title 'With Heavy Hearts', Prince Harry and Meghan Markle said in a statement on their Archewell Foundation website that they support action to 'help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering'.

The statement read: 'At the Archewell Foundation, with Prince Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, we stand against all acts of terrorism and brutality.

'We are supporting our partners and organisations on the front lines in Israel to provide the urgent aid needed, and to help all innocent victims of this unconscionable level of human suffering.'

References

^ Mark Duell (www.dailymail.co.uk)
^ Buckingham Palace (www.dailymail.co.uk)
^ London (www.dailymail.co.uk)
^ Hamas (www.dailymail.co.uk)
^ Charles' condemnation of Hamas in a statement yesterday (www.dailymail.co.uk)
^ King Charles III (www.dailymail.co.uk)