Kate Middleton had an emotional reunion with two Holocaust survivors at a poignant ceremony in London to mark 80 years since the liberation of Auschwitz.
The Princess of Wales hugged Yvonne Bernstein and Stephen Frank at a reception for around 50 survivors of the Nazi campaign and survivors of subsequent genocides, telling them it was a treat to see them again after taking pictures of them for a Holocaust photography project in 2020, reports the Mirror.
As she sat catching up with Yvonne, the two women held hands, with Yvonne stroking the Princess’s arm and thanking her for coming. “It was such a treat for me to come and see an old friend,” said Kate, who wore a black coat over black wide-leg trousers and a black sweater with a five-string pearl necklace.
She had greeted the 87-year-old by saying: “It’s so nice to see you,” and hearing that Yvonne had suffered some health problems, she added: “You’ve had such a hard time, haven’t you?” Kate also shared a warm hug with Stephen, 89, who thanked her for sending him a Christmas card and the two chatted about his family.
William sat with Polish born Alfred Garwood, who survived Bergen-Belsen as a child and Bosnian genocide survivor Sabina Kadic-Mackenzie, who now lives in Liverpool. Both the Prince and Princess discussed their desire to teach their children about the Holocaust, with William saying: “George is getting to the age where he’s starting to understand things. So it’s getting interesting to talk to him about what happened.””
Apologising that they couldn’t spend longer talking, he said: “There is a lot of history at this table, we need to hear it all.” Kate asked Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines: “Do you write a diary? It’s so important that these stories are written down. They are still relevant stories.”
On arrival the couple were welcomed by Olivia Marks-Woldman, Holocaust Memorial Day chief executive and Laura Marks, the charity’s chair of trustees. “I can’t believe it’s been 80 years,” said William. “It’s staggering.”
Telling the Princess she was glad she was feeling well, Kate replied: “Thank you, it’s good to be able to be here.” Speaking ahead of her reunion with Stephen and Yvonne, she added: “It will be good to see them again. “We are glad we are here,” said William. “It’s important to be here.”
The royal couple then joined 50 Holocaust survivors for a photograph, along with prime minister Sir Keir Starmer and deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. Other politicians meeting survivors and their families in the reception included home secretary Yvette Cooper, former home secretary Sajid Javid and Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey.
All guests then moved to the Great Hall for a special ceremony. The hall’s walls, ceiling and chandeliers were lit purple as the London Youth Chamber Choir performed with an orchestra on stage.
Several extracts from memoirs written by Jewish people during the Holocaust were read out, including by TV personality Robert Rinder, while the testimonies of survivors were also played on TV screens. In a short speech, William said: “I am honoured to join you today to mark Holocaust Memorial Day and to remember the millions murdered during the Holocaust and in subsequent genocides.
“We also remember those survivors who have lived with scars, both mental and physical. Their bravery, in sharing with us the most harrowing moments of their lives, are extremely powerful and ensure that we never forget. I assure them we never will.
The prince then read an extract from the book Holocaust Heroes, which made reference to the efforts made by his great-grandmother, Princess Alice of Battenberg, to help a Jewish family in need.
The event is the princess’ first official outing since she revealed she was in remission from cancer just under two weeks ago. Kate has been gradually returning to royal duties since her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment last year. It will be her first official appearance at an engagement alongside her husband since they visited Southport to meet emergency services there.
She also made a surprise return to public appearances earlier this month when she gave thanks to medical teams at The Royal Marsden hospital in London, where she received her cancer treatment.
Meanwhile, on a trip to Poland today, a moved King Charles made history by becoming the first British monarch to visit Auschwitz for an emotional ceremony to commemorate the 80th anniversary of its liberation.
Charles has headed to the country to commemorate the milestone with foreign monarchs, presidents, prime ministers and Holocaust survivors invited to a service at the Auschwitz-Birkenau museum and memorial. More than a million people, mostly Jews but also Poles, Soviet prisoners of war and other nationalities, were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz-Birkenau during the Second World War as part of the Holocaust in which six million Jewish men, women and children were killed.
During the ceremony today, the King looked emotional and appeared to wipe away a tear has he listened to Auschwitz survivors poignantly recall their stories of surviving the Nazi death camp.
Earlier today Charles visited the heart of Krakow’s Jewish community as commemorations began. He told those gathered at the Jewish Community Centre (JCC) that remembering the “evils of the past remains a vital task”, and knowledge should be used to inspire people to “build a kinder and more compassionate world”.
More than a million people, mostly Jews but also Poles, Soviet prisoners of war and other nationalities, were murdered by the Nazis at Auschwitz-Birkenau, as part of the Holocaust in which six million Jewish men, women and children were killed. When soldiers opened the gates of Auschwitz-Birkenau, the largest Nazi concentration camp complex, on January 27 1945, just 7,000 prisoners remained. Charles earlier this month said his upcoming visit to the concentration camp was “so important.”
At a Buckingham Palace reception marking Holocaust Memorial Day, the King met survivors of the Nazi terror, telling them: “I feel I must go for the 80th anniversary.”
