Royal Couple Visits Borough Recognized for Refugee Support

King Charles III and Queen Camilla undertook a visit to a north-east London borough, where they met with community and religious leaders involved in assisting and advising refugees. This royal engagement followed a peaceful assembly of over 1,000 individuals outside an immigration facility in Walthamstow on 7 August. This gathering occurred amidst concerns about potential disturbances, at a period when various areas of the UK had experienced disorder. Buckingham Palace commented that the calm demonstration showcased the “true community spirit of the borough, coming together to keep people and communities safe”. As part of their visit, Queen Camilla presented 25 toys to Citizens UK, intended for distribution to children residing in asylum hotels. Additionally, a contribution was made to a food bank in the King’s name. The King and Queen participated in a reception held at Waltham Forest Town Hall, an event the local council characterized as a “celebration of the spirit of the borough’s community.” They also greeted onlookers who had assembled outside. Following a performance by the children’s choir, A Little Choir of Joy, King Charles III conveyed to them: “I do hope you have a very happy Christmas.” The King subsequently quipped that the choir members, comprising eight to 12 year olds from local schools, ought to “make the most of it” for the “poor teachers.” When Sikh faith representative Harvinder Rattan inquired, “How are you?”, the King responded with a smile, stating: “I’m still alive.” Walthamstow MP Stella Creasy was among those who welcomed the royal couple at the town hall, remarking that the visit held “a lot” of significance. The Labour MP later commented: “The far-right are very active in our local community, and they continue to come and protest here. That means that we as a community have to be constantly vigilant and it means a lot that the King has recognised the community, the grassroots activism. We never want to get to a place again where people are having to challenge the far right on our streets.” The national charity City of Sanctuary formally designated Waltham Forest as a Borough of Sanctuary in December 2023. For more content, listeners can access BBC Radio London’s highlights on Sounds and engage with BBC London on Facebook, X, and Instagram. Story submissions can be sent to hello.bbclondon@bbc.co.uk. This material is Copyright 2024 BBC, with all rights reserved. The BBC disclaims responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.