Charles to succeed Queen as Holocaust Memorial Day patron

Prince Charles is to succeed his mother as Patron of the Holocaust Memorial Day Trust, it was announced this week.

That the heir to the throne accepted the honour will come as no surprise to the Jewish community, with whom the prince has a longstanding relationship.

Last month, he marked West London Synagogue’s 175th anniversary, and has also hosted and attended numerous Kindertransport events. He was also the first member of the Royal Family to attend the installation of the Chief Rabbi, attending the ceremony for Chief Rabbi Ephraim Mirvis at St John’s Wood Synagogue in North London in 2013.

“We are honoured that HRH the Prince of Wales has chosen to accept our invitation to succeed The Queen as Patron,” said HMDT chief executive Olivia Marks-Woldman.

“Survivors of the Holocaust and subsequent genocides hugely appreciate the Royal Family’s recognition of the importance of commemoration.”

Last year, The Queen visited Bergen-Belsen where she met survivors and liberators of that concentration camp and hosted Holocaust survivors at her Garden Parties at Buckingham Palace.

This week, HMDT bossed paid tribute to her work as Patron since the organisation’s inception ten years ago.